Is something I suck at. Truth is I never know what to say to get the conversational ball rolling. I am very much a “You speak to me and I’ll respond as best I can” person.
Conversationally the other person has to be in the driving seat. If they metaphorically let go of the conversational wheel then I’m at a loss as to what to do.
Then before that is the whole issue of knowing when to approach people or not.
I am the first child to my parents. I have two sisters who are right behind me in age. So we three played together when we were kids. I felt obliged to make the initiative to start an activity as I am the oldest. This childhood experience benefits me a lot because I was used to being the first one who initiated something such as a conversation, a game or an outting.
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I’m pretty much the same way, @firemonkey.
I feel at ease talking to Kings or Paupers…
You have to yell across the dinner table to get your point made at my family gatherings. On my wife’s side, all you can hear is the clanking of cutlery. Nobody says a word.
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Before I got ill I was blessed with good communication skills. Now it varies. Lost touch with all my old mates except I guy called Jimi. We get on like time hasn’t passed. He has invited me to his family home in Northern Ireland this summer.
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I’m not good at conversation either. I worry about it less now that I am older. When I was young it was terribly frustrating. I felt denied, like life was slipping away from me. Now, I am more content with my own company.
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The funny thing is someone who used to be my support at a mental health charity and the befriender I had both said I was a good conversationalist. I suspect they were trying to encourage me.
I’m better if someone gets on to a topic I like or am knowledgeable about and If I feel comfortable with them.
I am not very good at just making casual conversation/small talk.
As most entry into conversation and type of conversation generally is casual/small talk
I struggle to initiate conversation .
The truth is having no friends and being alone a lot I don’t get to talk much. Most weeks the most I talk is to tell those people phoning to ask me to do surveys that I am not interested.