I (M/25) feel like I spend a lot of my time observing people and their relationships.
It’s a weird hobby of mine but I genuinely enjoying seeing the dynamics between two people. Often I’ll ask coworkers or acquaintances how their friends or significant others are doing.
I’m often fascinated by their responses. Often I see their faces light up as they tell me something that their friend/SO did or how they tell me how much they care for them.
It feels odd, despite me being interested in understanding how humans foster and develop meaningful relationships, I often feel incredibly alone.
I don’t really have any friends whom I regularly see or talk to or message.
I wouldn’t say it’s because I’m an unpleasant person, people often tell me they think I’m kind, it’s more so that I’m socially awkward and anxious, so I tend to keep to myself a lot of the time.
Today, a coworker told me about how much they care for their ex. Despite them no longer dating, they went on to tell me how much they care for their former partner and are willing to do anything to support them.
That made me realize how I don’t think I’ve ever had a friend who cared that much for me. I felt lonely and imagined what it must be like to have a friend like that.
Now I’m wondering, what does it take to in order to make friends? What draws you to someone and what makes you attached to them?