- As Pam Brown, an Australian poet said friendships need to be watered.
- Think of a garden, if you do not tend to it, it will soon be overcome with weeds and your plants will die off.
Image: BBC
Friendships are a vital part of our day-to-day life.
You need someone to lean on when you're tired, someone to tell your adventures to and someone to sit in a not-awkward silence with.
This is other than family and lover.
Pam Brown, an Australian poet said "A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely."
Here are some ways you can make and save your friendship from drying out as an extrovert.
Go slow
It is understandable that as a social butterfly, you will be talking to many people in a short period.
Take a break and think of the one you are genuinely interested in being friends with, then commit.
Respect other people's space
You should be conscious of other persons' personal space. Give them time off and alone time if needed.
Spend quality time with friends
Extroverts tend to reach wide in their social life rather than deep.
Quality time helps nurture friendships, it does not necessarily mean frequent and long time together.
It is rather a time spent doing what mutually interests or benefits both of you.
It can be over a 30-minute lunch date talking about anything and nothing or a 20-minute Bible study.
Be open to compromises
You should find a balance for your personality. As an extroverted friend, you are a social butterfly.
This can be hard to keep up with your introverted friend.
You can make a routine of choosing your activities or hanging out points.
TO THE INTROVERT
Being a wallflower is not a shortcoming. It simply means you take a bit longer to make friends and to get comfortable around others.
You can also take the reins in forming friendships. Here's how:
Rely on your personality talents
This includes a commitment to secrecy, curiosity and empathy.
Introverts are also better listeners compared to extroverts.
They prefer asking questions and engaging in deep-meaning conversations.
One can use this to make friends. People tend to appreciate good listeners.
Be open to trying out new things
This means you have to compromise. You can start by trying out something that has always been of interest to you.
Try to initiate a conversation. The other person may be shy or may have judged you as anti-social.
In a nutshell, get out of your comfort zone.
Be yourself
Trying to change who you are and your personality will only end up draining you and possibly, lead to stress.
You only need to be you to make friends. The person intended to be your friend will accept you, you are.
Do not overthink
Do not spend time overanalyzing the conversations you had or the activities you took part in.
Let the moment be. Focus on the time spent with your friends.
Check-in on old friends and stay connected with the new ones
As Brown said, friendships need to be watered.
Think of a garden, if you do not tend to it, it will soon be overcome with weeds and your plants will die off.
Check-in on your friends lest the ties between you die away.