THE DOORMAT CHRONICLES

The Art of Being an Idiot in Liking Someone Who Doesn’t Care

Ever found yourself falling head over heels for someone who treats you like yesterday’s newspaper? You know, that friend, colleague, or random acquaintance you hold in high regard while they barely notice your existence? Yes, that one. It’s almost a rite of passage—this absurd act of elevating someone who couldn’t care less, like you’ve been cast in a tragic-comedy where the joke is always on you. It’s like we are addicted to the thrill of unreciprocated admiration, a spectator sport we willingly play, cheering from the sidelines of someone else’s life.

We’re all guilty of it—admiring that one person who couldn’t give two hoots about our existence. Let’s not sugarcoat it; we’re idiots. Perhaps it’s our desperation for connection or our misplaced faith that, somehow, this person will wake up one day and see our worth. Spoiler alert: they won’t. They’re too busy using us as their personal doormat, casually wiping their feet as they march forward without so much as a backward glance.

You meet them, and suddenly, it feels like you’ve discovered a missing piece of your soul. The illusion is so strong that you believe there’s something profound here—something that transcends the ordinary. But there’s nothing mystical about someone who views you as an afterthought. And yet, here you are, an emotional investor in a bankrupt stock, eagerly awaiting dividends that will never come.

The Illusion of Connection

Let’s talk about this so-called connection. It’s not real. It’s a figment of your imagination, carefully crafted by your mind to fill the void left by unfulfilled desires. You see their slight smile as an invitation, their casual text as a grand declaration of mutual admiration, and their rare acknowledgment of your existence as a cosmic sign that your souls are intertwined. But here’s the harsh truth: they’re not. That “connection” you feel is a one-sided mirage, an emotional catfish of your own making.

We project our fantasies onto these unsuspecting (and usually indifferent) recipients of our affections. We assign meaning to every word, every gesture, and every silence, building a narrative in which we are the protagonist and they, our destined counterpart. Except, in their version of the story, you don’t even make it to the footnotes. And still, we convince ourselves there’s something there, something worth holding on to, when all evidence points to the contrary.

The Door Mat Syndrome

Have you ever stopped to wonder why you’re the one always reaching out, the one making plans, the one constantly available at their beck and call? Congratulations, you’ve officially enrolled in the Doormat University, majoring in Self-Inflicted Disrespect. Your degree? A Ph.D. in Not-So-Subtle Rejection. The irony is, you keep showing up for a test you know you’re destined to fail. You tell yourself it’s worth it because, deep down, they care. It’s just that they’re busy, misunderstood, or maybe not good with emotions. The truth? They just don’t value you enough to reciprocate.

They don’t respond to your messages? Oh, they must be busy. They cancel plans? Surely, something urgent came up. They forget your birthday? No big deal, right? Wrong. These aren’t coincidences; these are patterns. Patterns that scream, “You’re not important.” But our mind, ever the optimist, spins tales of exceptions and rare cases, keeping the illusion alive.

Why Do We Do This?

The answer is simple: validation. We want to matter, to be seen and valued, even if it’s by someone who treats us like background noise. The more they ignore, the harder we try, as if their indifference is a challenge to overcome. We see it as an unspoken game of emotional tug-of-war, except we’re the only ones pulling. And the prize? A fleeting sense of belonging in someone else’s world, no matter how illusory it might be.

But at some point, you have to ask yourself, “Is this worth it?” Is it worth your time, energy, and self-respect? Or are you just playing a game you’ve already lost? The realization that you’re nothing more than a blip on their radar can be jarring, but it’s also liberating. You don’t need to be an unpaid emotional intern to someone else’s ego. You’re better than that.

Closing Thoughts

We can’t always help who we like, but we can help how we let ourselves be treated. It’s okay to admire someone, but it’s not okay to let that admiration turn you into a lesser version of yourself. So, next time you find yourself idolizing someone who barely acknowledges you, remember: you deserve better. And sometimes, the person who needs your attention the most is the one staring back at you in the mirror.

Short Poem:

We chase the echoes of what’s never there,

Building castles from whispers, thin as air.

We stitch connections with threads of hope,

But lose ourselves on this slippery slope.

So let’s unlearn this foolish art,

And reclaim the space inside our heart.