FRIENDS FORBIDDENMaybe you see someone at a party and wish you were friends, but face the reality that you're not supposed to be friends with everyone you want. Regardless of what you want, your personality type (or theirs) might not be compatible. Of course, you won't know if someone is a potential friend until you actually try to be friends. This means that some of your attempts may fail, but don't get frustrated and stop trying if a relationship doesn't work out. Eventually you will find a compatible person, unless you are looking for friends in the wrong place or haven't worked out your issues that can hinder friendships. Let me tell you the story of a friend of mine. Because of her husband's job, they moved around a lot, and I don't mean from one end of town to the other. They moved to another state and this happened every few years. You can imagine how stressful it must be to leave everyone you know and move to an unfamiliar city. She felt alone, so her mother gave her some advice. She said to knock on a neighbor's door and introduce herself. My friend did, but that advice didn't turn out exactly the way mom hoped. She received a rude response and went home crying. She called her mother back to tell her what had happened. Her mother was pretty good and told her to try another neighbor, which she did. This time she met a friendly neighbor and suddenly she didn't feel so alone. The point of this story is that you should not give up if your first, or even second or third, attempt at making a friend fails. This is inevitable, but some of your attempts will ultimately succeed if you present yourself as sympathetic and friendly. (Discussed in a later chapter) Remember that everyone has blocks. You have likes and dislikes, and so do other people. You may or may not have gotten to the middle of paper...their acceptance or rejection. When you listen, you learn about other people's likes and dislikes. Over time, you will develop trust and loyalty if this friendship is meant to last. A truly good, lasting friendship takes time. Remember, not all friends will be best friends or long-lasting friends, but the friends you make and keep are worth the investment. Others, you'll just have to walk away. This will give you more time to cultivate relationships worth maintaining. LESSONS LEARNED IN THIS CHAPTER: Use a mirror to practice looking friendly and walking confidently. Approach someone when they are alone.Be friendly and greet with a handshake.Observe body language to know if a person is interested. Ask questions and listen. Don't talk too much. Try to find a common interest. Admire something about them. Don't waste time pursuing the wrong person for a friend..