I don’t know if this means a romantic relationship or a platonic one.
I think I’ll go with platonic, because a lot of that would still carry over to a romantic relationship.
(A romantic relationship should be a friendship, after all!)
1. To be asked questions
As I said in the sidebar paragraph on this site, my default is to keep a lot of my thoughts/feelings/experiences inside. I can talk fluff just fine, but questions help me get more of the non-fluff out.
Asking me what I think about something, how I’m really doing, or how my week was reminds me to open up and reminds me that someone wants to hear what I have to say.
2. To be encouraged
Encouragement to me is like gas to a car; it really helps to keep me going!
Encouragement can be, “You’re such a blessing to me.” or it can be, “Hey, remember God loves you and He’s still working in these hard times.”
3. To invite me to get together
Since I am an introverted homebody, sometimes it just does not occur to me to initiate time together.
My two friends Beth and Mia were SO good at this. They both get out and about a lot, and they were good at inviting me along.
But unfortunately, they both moved (one to Texas, one to Ohio. Womp, womp.)
I need God to send me a new non-homebody friend! 🙂
I’m really not good with friendships (can I blame my constantly-moving military childhood? sure!), but the people I get along with best all evidence three things: humor, intelligence, and . . . the third quality is hard to put into words. Earnestness? Passion? Thoughtfulness? They feel strongly about something, in any case, whether that’s their work or their hobby or ideas, or whatever.
Also not good with friendships! Most of my closest friends are not near me — mostly just separations in highway miles and time zones, but one’s on a whole ‘nother continent most of the time.
I need:
• Ease in small talk. Small talk is painful with nearly everyone I know. It’s so hard.
• Mutual acceptance and forgiveness, but not permissiveness, and not hero-worship.
• Values in common, especially in religion.