Treasure the people who saw your cringe era and still cheer for you now.

Everybody has a stretch of years they would rather not have footage of. The people who were there for yours and still cheer are worth something specific: they have already seen the worst draft, so nothing needs protecting around them. You cannot manufacture that with someone new, however well the friendship goes. It only comes from having been there.

Stop apologizing for that version of yourself in front of them, and stop letting anyone use it as ammunition. Send one of those people something from back then this week. Old friends are the one audience you never have to perform for.