A few weeks ago, I spent the weekend at a college friend's bachelorette party. She invited an old friend from kindergarten, let's call her Mary.
Mary was the definition of insecure and on top of that, she possessed the worst social skills I've ever witnessed. She couldn't read a room, and talking to her quickly turned intense, making you wonder how you ended up in this conversation. She often lacked context for even the most casual small talk (like popular shows, books or politics). She asked very intimate questions right after we got introduced to each other. And she verbally communicated her feeling insecure, not accepted and self-conscious all the time.
The wedding is coming up soon and I was wondering if there is anything I could do to make her more at ease at the party. Usually, I am good with people, even those who are self-conscious or anxious. But there was something about her that made it impossible for me to connect at her at all. Instead, I found myself avoiding her, which is the way everyone else felt too. Having been someone who felt like an outsider in the past and also because she is my friend's close friend, I want to make a better effort. Any tips?