Friend parades her amazing social life...

[starbrightlight]

in front of me all the bloody time. It makes me feel like billy no mates the way she goes on about all the amazing things she's doing with all her many friends.

I am an introvert at heart (though no one would guess as I'm quite lively) with lots of interests that I'm happy to pursue alone or with my OH. For example, I'm happy spending time on my own making jam or doing the garden or painting.

This friend doesn't have any interests at all other than her friends and social life. Most of her conversation is tittle tattle and idle gossip (not unkind), but we've been friends for so long I don't know what to do as increasingly I find her company brings me down.

I do have other friends, just a handful, but this endless showing off feels like boasting and it's getting me down.

Maybe it just plays into my insecurities but I suspect that her need to parade her amazing social life and friends repeatedly before me masks insecurities of her own.

Any suggestions how to handle this? Maybe I should have posted in AIBU because maybe I am (being unreasonable) but I am being honest about how it makes me feel, even if it sounds a bit pathetic.

REbelRogue I think you're partly right. It is my issue and I am working on it. But I also think it is her issue, to bolster herself up. Sometimes at the expense of other people, not just me.

AlmaGeddon - That's true, I do think she lives her life through other people and yes, I am interested in her take on things but I never get to hear it! I think she is fluid, depending on what other people think or do.

She has a heart of gold but is needy.

@starbrightlight come and hang out with me - I've got several bags of allium bulbs that need planting!

she has zero interests I don't think she does actually, and that's not a particularly nice thing to be saying- it's just that what she likes to do, you don't. Agree with others that not sure why you are pushing to spend time with her when you are so derogatory. And it does seem that you would only want to spend time if it was on your terms.

Than you, WildCherryBlossom, that would be lovely, and would you like to share my snowdrops?

shakeyourcaboose I am not 'pushing to spend time with her'. Quite the opposite in fact. I would prefer to reduce the time we spend together but that would be difficult so I was asking for ways to handle how our interaction makes me feel and am thankful for the suggestions and empathy clearly shown by some posters.