[interroboink]

> the terrible people won ... you're likely living a worse more jaded life

Respectfully, I think this is rather judgemental (I realize the irony that I am judging you, too :)

It doesn't have to be a battle, there doesn't have to be a winner. Everybody is free to explore their limits and boundaries, and put energy into the areas of life that they find most fruitful.

Maybe OP really does want a kick-in-the-pants "get back in there and fight!" pep talk — in which case, ignore me. But maybe they just decided that it was not their particular hill to die on. It takes all kinds.