You Just Got "Curved."

In the dating world, "curved" is the new "ghosted"--and it applies to frustrating friendships too. In essence, you get "curved" when someone communicates with you regularly, but slyly avoids committing to an in-person plan. For instance, you say: "Miss your laugh. Let's meet for lunch next Tuesday." Your friend simply responds: "Miss you more." The worst part about being the victim of this form of social gaslighting is you hang in there, hoping for some real in-person contact. Then, you start to feel foolish. Don't. Just know that most people "curve" because they're either: a) afraid of the confrontation that comes with ending a friendship or b) busier than Kamala Harris. What to do? If a "friend" consistently avoids making a plan with you, shuffle along. At this age, we deserve people in our lives who show up for us. In the words of Dionne Warwick, "That's what friends are for."

---