Dear Shirley:

I am glad you are doing better! I like you and Andrew making your stresses into dramas- excellent. Seems like you are as good for Andrew as he is good for you. I remember you mentioning Steve your lunch buddy many times. You also mentioned before Francine (and you) trying to help Steve overcome his shyness.

1. ” Do you think it would be a good idea to invite Steve to Garden Club with Andrew, me and Francine?”

– sure. It will be up to Steve to accept or reject the offer. No one should pressure him to accept and the offer.

2. “… some people think I’ve become shy and others think I’m being cynical, but I’m not. I’m just working on recreating myself to show the world and it’s like I don’t want people to know me yet until I find all the parts of me. How do I make it so it doesn’t seem I’m being aloof and cynical?”

– be assertive and friendly at the same time. Ultimately though, what people think about you is not under your control, and really, what goes on in between their ears is their business. If they want to think this or that about you, they will. No matter what- not everyone will like you, not everyone will think of you what you would like them to think. It is impossible.

anita