"You are not clingy, or needy, or silly for having needs for affection and affirmation and attention within a romantic relationship. Those needs aren't an embarrassing outgrowth of your low self-esteem or depression or whatever messy emotional issues you may have going on. That's just basic shit that people need from each other. We of course would not make our parents responsible for meeting all of our emotional needs - it's not someone else's job to make you happy. But inside a healthy relationship, being able to show affection, pay attention, and demonstrate 'You are amazing and important to me' is a pleasure, not some task or burden." - Jennifer Peepas
