PROHIBITED FRIENDS Maybe you see someone at a party and want to be friends, but face the reality that you're not meant to be friends with everyone you want. Regardless of what you want, your personality type (or theirs) may not be compatible. Of course, you won't know if someone is a potential friend until you actually try to be one. This means that some of your attempts may fail, but don't get frustrated or stop trying if a relationship isn't working. You'll eventually find a compatible person, unless you're looking for friends in the wrong places or haven't dealt with the issues that can get in the way of friendships. Let me tell you a story about a friend of mine. Because of her husband's job, they moved often, and I don't mean across town. They moved to another state and this happened every few years. You can imagine how stressful it must be to leave everyone you know and move to a city of strangers. She felt alone, so her mother gave her some advice. He said to knock on a neighbor's door and introduce himself. My friend did, but the advice didn't go exactly as Mom expected. She received a rude response and went home crying. He called his mother again to tell her what happened. Her mother was quite wise and told her to try another neighbor, which she did. This time she met a friendly neighbor and suddenly didn't feel so alone. The point of this story is that you don't have to give up if your first or even second or third attempt at making friends fails. It's bound to happen, but eventually some of your attempts will be successful when you come across as nice and friendly. (Discussed in a later chapter) Remember that everyone has problems. You have likes and dislikes and so do others. You may or may not have written... in the middle of the paper... your acceptance or rejection. When you listen, you learn about other people's likes and dislikes. Over time you will develop trust and loyalty if this friendship is meant to last. A truly good and lasting friendship takes time. Remember that not all friends will be best friends or long-lasting friends, however, the friends you make and keep will be worth the investment. From others you will simply have to walk away. This will give you more time to pursue relationships worth keeping. LESSONS LEARNED IN THIS CHAPTER: Use a mirror to practice appearing friendly and walking confidently. Approach someone when they are alone. Be friendly and greet with a handshake. Observe body language to know if a person is interested. Ask questions and listen. Don't talk too much. Try to find a common interest. Admire something about them. Don't waste time chasing the wrong person as a friend..