29th January 25
Talking
The other day I was in the car with a friend and she said to me that I am a lot more responsive talking to people when I am side by side with them rather than face to face.
I had never really noticed that before but I do love going on a car journey with Matt because it’s a place for us to talk and I have a captive audience. He has to sit there and listen and vice versa.
Maybe having something else to concentrate on makes the conversation feel more natural, less pressured. When I’m face to face with someone, there’s an expectation – eye contact, body language, the intensity of direct engagement. To me it can feel overwhelming, like I have to perform rather than just talk.
But when I’m side by side with someone – whether in a car, on a walk, or even sitting next to them on a bench – it’s different. The focus isn’t entirely on me or them; it’s shared with the journey, the surroundings, the movement. It takes the pressure off and lets the conversation flow more freely.
Maybe that’s why I like those settings so much. They create space rather than feeling like I’m being interrogated. There’s comfort in knowing that I can speak without worrying about every expression or reaction. It makes me wonder – how many other people feel the same way but have never realised it?
