You are very young. The way to happiness is through caring for others and being thankful. Do not waste energy on mean people. Smile, acknowledge to yourself that they are at fault for their attitudes, BE NICE TO THEM ANYWAY-no matter how hideously they twist it back onto you in evil ways- and focus on nicer people and bigger tasks. Move on. Don't engage. I know its VERY DIFFICULT not to let work jerks bring you down. I had a stressful job with lots of awful people for many years. I suffered most when I focused on how awful they were being. You're not weak to smile, ignore and take the high road. You can't win by fighting, getting depressed or gossiping. You'll never see those people again when you move on from that job, which you will.
Keep positive. Fake it 'til you make it. Do nice things for people and don't expect a return. Ever notice how confident, happy, busy people aren't "trying" to get people to like them? They're not keeping score, they're just rocking and rolling in their own lives? Make eye contact with people you come across in your day, smile, joke, be kind. Ask about community events they are attedning and go! Take your son.
I was much more anxious at 30 about things than at 43 now. I realize now, that I have to make my own friends through thoughtful actions and make my own happiness by making a choice. I've been through terrible betrayal and divorce and family deaths etc too. Everyone has those hurdles in life. Good people keep being good anyway. Why did you picture a perfect life? That was not realistic and that's OK. Miracles are everywhere imo -I just saw an incredible sky last night when I hit the bridge into our nearest town at JUST the right time to see reflections in the water and beams through the clouds, my kids and I were all stunned at how transformed a daily sight was in that moment. Sometimes it's a miracle that I can remember to take the trash out.
Do not worry about your appearance getting older. You know lots of beautiful older people right, inside and out? You should befriend some happy older people as inspirations to you. Once you are reaching out to good people, caring about them, asking them about their lives, doing good things and loving yourself, you will meet someone worthy of you to be in love with. Don't worry about tomorrow, make the best choices you can day by day.
Good friends are very important. Nothing cures the blues about superficial aging signs like surrounding yourself with good people the same age!! Seek out some nice people, and reach out to them. You still have plenty of time to cultivate a good circle of people in your life if you make a sincere effort. I'm living a pretty isolated life after moving away from my job to stay home and raise kids on one income, and then getting divorced after painful years of cheating. But I've made great friends with neighbors, people at the gym, people who are friends of a few friends I made and the circle goes out from there, lots of nice parents at my kids activities. I'm having a party full of ladies here at my house in a couple of weeks and I can't believe how many friends I actually have showing up for a hermit by nature. But I work at it. Not many people will approach a single mom. I'm used to that. Once I reach out though, people are always nice.
How did your friends forget about you? Did you continue to be in touch with them and do things for them and care about them but they ignored all your efforts and shut you out anyway? (not good friends then) or did you just drift apart because no one really tried? I've had my closest friend for over 20 years. We can go months with no word, but one of us will contact the other eventually and we'll catch up. We've pulled each other out of the fire many times through many phases of life. It has been mutual. If you nurture a relationship with a good person, it will not fade. If it fades despite your efforts, it's not a friendship that was worth much. With no effort, or people getting petty every time they think they're "doing more" even a good relationship will fade. I've known lots of people who accuse friends of "moving on" but I know for a fact they sort of just sat there and got mad when the person moved on rather than graciously staying engaged in that person's life and embracing the changes happening.
We can all do more to be happy. Good luck, you can do it!