[neogodless]

I often feel like a "giver" in conversations, asking all the questions but never being given opportunities to share my own stories or viewpoint...

I seek and value friends that DO ask about me, and then try to remind myself to not take it for granted, and return the favor to them!

This gives some additional lens, though, to be flexible with "takers" and give them credit for putting themselves out there.

[skobes]

Once I realized that some people expect and are happy for you to jump in with unprompted thoughts or stories, it became easier for me to be intentional about doing so.

I think I'm a lot better now than when I was younger at adapting to a wide range of conversational styles, mostly just from paying more attention to that dynamic.

Do you feel like your conversational toolbox has evolved over time? :)

[neogodless]

Ha, yes a bit! Not interrupting or talking over someone was drilled into me in childhood, but exposure to different family dynamics helped me learn that it's not a universal value, and that I can adapt and adjust my communication styles for different groups and situations.

That's still a bit of a struggle to push myself to "speak out of turn" and ensure my voice is included in a discussion.