I have never been one who was good at handling conflicts. So, my approach has always been to avoid them. However, conflicts are unavoidable in all relationships. They can stem from miscommunication, misunderstanding or simply an individual having a bad day.
My friends and I often found it difficult to find time to meet up during the semester. After weeks of planning, we managed to find a time when all of us could meet up for dinner. At the restaurant, we were greeted by some unexpected company. One of my friends had arranged to meet her other group of friends at the same time and place. The atmosphere turned awkward as I had my friend sitting in the middle of two groups and trying to join both conversations. We tried to strike a conversation with her other friends but we eventually gave up as they displayed no interest in breaking the ice. Throughout dinner, I felt uncomfortable and displeased with her arrangement but I contained my feelings. After we finished our food, both groups discussed about separate plans after dinner. We thought that my friend was going to join them, so we foot our bill and left politely. Later on, my friend sent me a message me to confront me about our hostility. I felt wronged and disappointed in her at the same time. We did make an effort to improve the situation but her friends appeared uninterested.
We were all secretly unhappy with my friend’s arrangement but to avoid an emotional confrontation, I chose to remain silent. This incident did not affect our friendship but I always felt that I could have handle the situation better. Dear classmates, what will you suggest me to do to handle the situation better?
