I have a friend whom I have known for a very long time. She has parties for every birthday and holiday. I always felt that I have had to be at these parties but lately, I have been wanting to avoid them.
Reason being, my personality is shy, quiet, observant but those qualities are not viewed as positive characteristics to anyone who attends these parties because everyone else is loud and talks over you. I have heard, inadvertently, that me being quiet is being conveyed in a way that people think I do not like them, that I’m mad at them, and/or have RBF. I try to engage with people but I find zero commonality. People do not understand me and I just do not get along with them. It’s getting to the point that I detest going to these parties.
Her birthday is coming up and knowing that there will be a party, I want to politely decline but also suggest celebrating her birthday on a one on one basis.
Does this sound like it could potentially come off as rude to her? If not, how could it be communicated respectfully?
1 comment
It would be totally reasonable to not be able to make a party for some reason. Just apologize and say you have something going on and you’d love to take them out another time to celebrate!