Hello everyone!

Have you ever had a friend who loved attention? I’m serious! They always had to be the center of attention.

If there is a meeting of three people, someone is going to be ignored because this person is going to steal the spotlight and keep it on them by all means necessary.

The Attention-Seeking Friend

There was a time when we were invited to lunch by our team leader. It was always a nice time socializing with him over a meal.

I could never stay in the conversation long, though, because this attention-seeking friend would always change the topic to something that would completely cut me out of the conversation.

So I’d sit there, eat my meal, and let them talk.

I realized it didn’t really bother me. I just felt kinda sad for her because I knew she needed to have it that way.

There are many possible reasons for this behavior: low self-esteem, insecurities, a need for validation, reassurance, or a desire to be the central focus.

Hey, everybody! I’m here! Listen to me, hear me, see me, and look at me!

Not Everyone Needs to Be in the Spotlight

Truthfully, I’ve always been the type of person who didn’t need the spotlight.

Leave me alone.

Put me in a room by myself with my work, and it will get done, and I will truly enjoy myself.

Put me in the back room. I don’t need to be in the front office in everyone’s view.

I’ve never been a social butterfly.

I know how to adapt when I need to with a group of people. I can be social and friendly and blend right in, no problem.

I also know how to enjoy working and being alone.

I mean, I actually prefer it!

Peace and quiet, yes Lord!

When a Friend Makes You Feel Excluded

I did feel like that behavior was pretty mean. You are literally causing someone to be ignored.

Whenever I was pulled back into the conversation, she would surely change the topic so I could see my way out of the conversation again.

I didn’t even bother. I’d enjoy my meal and let them talk.

I even thought sometimes, how pitiful. How very pitiful.

Sometimes I found it irritating, but I didn’t really get angry.

I always knew that every meal with her and another person was going to be like that.

She never disappointed. Not at all.

Learning to Protect My Peace in Friendships

I hope she’s doing better these days.

I just didn’t have the energy to bother having a discussion about it.

During that time in my life, I had enough issues of my own to deal with.

Sometimes you have to prioritize things in life, and that was very low on my list of priorities.

Brenda