What It Really Means To Be Real, i.e. What Gear Do We Actually Use

I decided to come back to this site because this was one of my favorite places that I spent my time at, I would spend endless hours pouring over every single thread here. I think this might be the right place to post based on what it seems like the discussion is surrounding, finding happiness.

I personally don't have a set up anymore, sold off almost all of my gear except a pair of HD580 and a Schiit Fulla. I found through my time in the headphone hobby that I was just pursuing consumerism and gear. I would hyper fixate on the next thing and the next thing, maybe that is better or this is better. It really took a hit to my mental health tbh, and I couldn't find any happiness anymore in the hobby, and started not being able to find happiness just in life (I was also in a toxic relationship, which didn't help that I used this as an escape). I ended up not even listening to music, rather just trying to further refine my gear, get it down to the most obscure and best I could get.

I have been out of the hobby for about 2 years now I would say, something like that. I will say that I am way more happy now than I have been. I prioritized my own mental health, physical health, helping build up my relationships with friends and family, and I even enjoy music way more now just listening out of a pair of Apple AirPod Pro and at my desk HD580 out of a Fulla. I am not nervouso about the gear and am just enjoying music for music.

I decided I am in a good headspace to come back here and talk to friends, but will probably stay out of most of the audio threads for the most part to help from falling back in too heavy, rather more lifestyle stuff. Wanted to say I am happy to be back and talk to everyone, and glad to see everyone is doing so well still.