5 Ways to Tell Someone How to be a Better Friend or Date
Making friends as an adult can be hard, so when you take an initial interest in someone it’s a big deal. While at a group outing, I met someone of the same sex who was definitely giving potential friend vibes. We took the time (and risk) to meet up for dinner to get to know each other. After settling in, the woman began chatting about the struggles of maintaining friendships. I listened and nodded, and listened, and listened some more. She transitioned from topic to topic, sharing about her background, experiences, and anything else that came to mind. I politely glanced at my watch and noticed that 90-minutes had passed. The woman hadn’t invited me into the dialogue once. As a therapist, it’s natural for me to listen, track people’s stories, and show genuine interest in what they want to talk about. I’m also not aggressive in personal conversations. At work I referee discussions between loved ones all the time. In my personal life, I don’t want to fight for center stage. I want a break from mostly one-way communication. If I have to muscle my way in to be seen or heard, then it’s probably not a healthy relationship for me. I was starting to feel drained and doubtful that this would become a friendship.
As we entertained the restaurant’s amazing dessert menu, I decided to bluntly switch topics to something personal. She began listening, and though…
