Is it worth trying to reconcile with a friend who gives weird energy over misunderstandings?
A few months ago, I (F, 38) had a small birthday dinner at my house with family and two close friends I speak to regularly. I intentionally kept it intimate because I simply wasn’t in the headspace to host a larger gathering.
A friend (F, 38) of mine (not sure if I should even the use word friend here), someone I’m not especially close with or in regular contact with, though she’s related to some of the friends I invited — found out she wasn’t included and has barely spoken to me since. The last time we interacted, the energy felt noticeably cold and distant.
I genuinely didn’t exclude her to be hurtful. I just wanted a very small, low-pressure evening at home. At the same time, if I’m being honest with myself, the friendship has felt somewhat one-sided for a while. A lot of our conversations tend to revolve around ongoing drama in her personal life and relationships, she rarely makes plans with me unless I initiate them, and interactions with her can sometimes feel emotionally draining. What also makes it difficult is that I don’t feel like I can express any of this openly without her taking it personally or becoming defensive.
At this point, I’m unsure whether it’s even worth trying to repair the friendship, or if it’s better to simply remain cordial. I also don’t know how best to navigate being in shared social settings when there’s clearly tension or awkward energy, especially when the issue (whatever it may be, if there is one) is never directly acknowledged.