Posts in Friendship
When “Just Friends” Isn’t Enough, But You Hold On Anyway: Exploring This Concept in Teen Romance
When “Just Friends” Isn’t Enough, But You Hold On Anyway: Exploring This Concept in Teen Romance

Have you ever been just friends with someone but wanted more from the relationship?

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantavejust friends, concept, teen romance, relationship, friendship, crush, confess, feelings, friend, distance, unrequited, unrequited love, date, heart, story, good friend, intense, love, staying friends, stay friends, pain, potential partner, forget, deep connection, INFJ personality, INFJ, deeply, conversations, secrets, comfortable, complicated, YA romance, ending, chooseComment
Navigating the Line Between Love and Friendship—and Childhood and Adulthood—in YA Romance
Navigating the Line Between Love and Friendship—and Childhood and Adulthood—in YA Romance

One of the biggest challenges she faces is trying to be a good friend to Simon while having an intense crush on Mordecai.

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantavelove, friendship, childhood, adulthood, YA romance, confess, feelings, high school, complicated, good friend, crush, attachment, date, story, choose, decision, coming-of-age, teenager, intense, attention, deep love, kid, friend, characters, love triangle, young adult romance, partner, endings, decideComment
Why She Chooses to Stay Friends With Someone She Loves: Exploring This Question in YA Romance
Why She Chooses to Stay Friends With Someone She Loves: Exploring This Question in YA Romance

Since Chloe is a teenager, it’s understandable that she still has a lot to learn about many things.

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantavestay friends, love, YA romance, new, young adult romance, confess, feelings, friendships, friendship, high school, date, just friends, complex, secrets, feel, special, story, pain, complicated, intense, INFJ personality, INFJ, deep love, distance, let go, forget, potential partner, understand, healthy, relationship, strong, choose, sense of self, chooses, question, good friend, ending, partner, teenager, high school romanceComment
Dealing With Unrequited Love for a Friend in a New YA Romance
Dealing With Unrequited Love for a Friend in a New YA Romance

Even so—even after all the time they spend together—Simon still struggles to tell Chloe how he feels.

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantaveunrequited love, friend, new, YA romance, confess, feelings, high school, student, crush, date, complicated, friendship, good friend, story, complexity, love, teen, relationships, teenagers, being friends, just friends, mixed signals, friends, IM chat, friend zone, teen romance, ending, membership, young adult romanceComment
Being Friends With Someone You Have Feelings For: Lessons from a New Teen Romance
Being Friends With Someone You Have Feelings For: Lessons from a New Teen Romance

This type of dynamic can be complicated at any age, but I think it’s especially challenging when you’re a teen.

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Writing, Fiction, FriendshipAshley Cantavebeing friends, feelings, lessons, teen romance, crush, friend, complicated, friendship, confessing, confess, romantic relationship, teen, main character, YA romance, high school, student, intense, good friend, love, fiction, characters, priorities, focus, priority, just friends, friend zone, potential, jealousy, mixed signals, distance, healthy, relationships, strong, secrets, learn, qualities, story, high school romance, ending, young adult romance, friendships, love story, relationshipComment
The Beauty of an INFJ-INFP Friendship
The Beauty of an INFJ-INFP Friendship

These commonalities may already lead INFJs and INFPs to have something to bond over when they meet, but their understanding goes even deeper than that.

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INFJ, INFP, FriendshipAshley CantaveINFJ, INFP, friendship, personalities, good friend, friend, understanding, rare, misunderstood, deeper, introverted, intuitive, feeling, emotion, approach, understand, different, unconventional, alternative, lifestyles, accept, bonds, deep, introverts, depth, interests, unique, views, perspectives, discuss, uniqueness, open-minded, writing, express, warm, poetic prose, mutual, communicate, art, letter-writing, communication, values, similar, sensitive, feel, superficial, mind Comments
How Can Introverts Develop Deeper Friendships?
How Can Introverts Develop Deeper Friendships?

If you find that your friendship isn’t going as deep as you would like, it might be up to you to try to go deeper.

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Introvert, Relationships, FriendshipAshley Cantaveintroverts, develop, deeper, friendships, quality, superficial, challenge, introverted adult, deepen, write, expressing, writing, say, pressure, think through, express, deep, discuss, in person, comfortable, thoughts, share, extrovert, communicate, way, in-depth, letters, meaning, relationships, willing, vulnerable, depth, willingness, weaknesses, open, strength, courage, healthy boundaries, trust, emotions, go deep, meaningful, friends, understand, personality types, INFJ, INFP, deep subjects, conversation, intuitive, thinking, listen, deep interests, friendship, bond, ask, possible, coffee, correspond, social circle, initiative, adults, time, effortComment
4 Well-Meaning Tips That Haven’t Helped Me Make Friends as an Introvert—And What Has Worked
4 Well-Meaning Tips That Haven’t Helped Me Make Friends as an Introvert—And What Has Worked

Many people are fine keeping relationships and conversations on a superficial level. But that’s not something that works for me.

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Introvert, Relationships, FriendshipAshley Cantavetips, make friends, introvert, advice, introverts, adult, joining clubs, club, joined, connected, members, passionate, friends, find, topic, experience, bonding, shared interests, friend, friendship, go deep, accept, relationships, conversations, superficial, level, deep friendships, connection, events, partners, attendees, courage, small talk, acquaintance, alone time, effort, comfort, go out, coffee shop, earbuds, store, approach, writing, connect, emails, schedule, email, letter, coordinate, face-to-face, conversation, keeping in touch, making an effort, first, send, message, ask, first move, strategies, introverted adultComment
What Can You Say Instead of Ghosting a Friend?
What Can You Say Instead of Ghosting a Friend?

If the reason you feel like disappearing is because you’re overwhelmed with a situation you’re dealing with, you will definitely want to tell your friend that instead of just stopping all communication.

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Relationships, Modern Life, FriendshipAshley Cantavefriend, ghosting, romantic, friends, ghost, communication, skills, fear, nice, avoid, conflict, lack, disappear, relationship, stop, distance, clear, how you feel, express, feelings, message, journaling, art, clarity, dealing with, responding, messages, worry, disappearing, situation, help, busy, respond, get in touch, calm down, responses, expecting, reconnect, end, friendship, courage, honest, in common, part ways, all the best, compatible, mutual interest, change, conversation, interest, talk, values, aligned, separate ways, wish you well, shared interests, deal-breaker, clearer, conflicted, sort through, more-than-friends, vague, feeling, healthy, giving, taking, reciprocal, walk away, fix, wrong, angry, angers, disappeared, apologizes, annoys, awareness, mindful, considerate, changing, intention, consideration, considering, dignity, respect, deserve, inconsiderate, behavior, disrespect, acceptable, do better, upsetting, communicate, afraid, reaction, handleComment
Why Do Some INFJs Prefer to Stay Friends Over Starting a Romantic Relationship?
Why Do Some INFJs Prefer to Stay Friends Over Starting a Romantic Relationship?

If an INFJ prefers to just chill, relax, or hang out with someone, it’s much easier to do that as friends.

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INFJ, INFJ Love, FriendshipAshley CantaveINFJ, just friends, friend zone, romantic, feelings, easier, relationships, hard work, ready, friendship, dating, responsibilities, expectations, crush, simple, relaxed, comfortable, change, inevitable, comfort, stress, stressful, public, friends, confessing, reciprocate, drift apart, fear, fears, afraid, uncomfortable, like, deep loveComment
What Do You Do When Your Crush Is Your Best Friend?
What Do You Do When Your Crush Is Your Best Friend?

You do everything with your best friend. And this is the one person you can talk to about anything. Books. Movies. Stresses. Joys. And…crushes?

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Relationships, FriendshipAshley Cantavecrush, best friend, response, responses, possible, situation, crushes, feel, feelings, friend, friendship, romantic, relationship, confess, confession, confessing, pros and cons, reject, rejection, date, continue, comfortable, secret, secrets, what if, release, respond, love confession, reciprocate, requited love, heart, friends, adviceComment
Are You Seeking Love or Deep Human Connection?
Are You Seeking Love or Deep Human Connection?

Sometimes you don’t want all the responsibilities that come with being in a relationship. Sometimes you just want a friend to talk to.

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Relationships, FriendshipAshley Cantavelove, romantic, relationship, friendship, human connection, deep, relationships, responsibilities, lonely, date, romantic partner, daydream, couples, mind, seek, crave, healthy, exes, crushes, commit, friend, friends, connect, deeply, deepen, social, interactions, online, non-romantic, in-person, companionship, satisfy, satisfying, longing, dating Comments