In the Media: Two words you should never say to a friend (Grandparents.com)
Grandparents.com (screenshot)
November 10, 2015
Writing in Grandparents.com, journalist Ellen Breslau expounds on two words that you should never say to a friend because they may turn out to be friendship killers: “busy” and “sometime.” She interviewed several experts, including The Friendship Doctor and writes:
If you do find yourself drifting apart, it might be natural to use the word “busy,” as a way to avoid a bigger conversation about the friendship.
“Saying you’re busy is actually a gentle way of saying no, suggesting that you would rather spend your time doing something else,” says Levine. “When someone constantly says they’re busy, it signals that perhaps the other person should back off—maybe the friend is too demanding or needy or wants more from the friendship than you do.”
But in that case, you might need to have a real conversation about the friendship not working for you.
Click here to read the Grandparents.com article in its entirety.
Category: IN THE MEDIA
This is great advice. I feel foolish because I heard the “I’m busy” line for months before I realized that it really meant, “I don’t want to spend time with you.”