Do you ever find yourself being a different person around different groups of people? It's a funny thing because they're all you... only different sides of you. Sometimes it's hard/tiring/draining to maintain a particular personality with one group of friends. Other times I pull back and wonder if they'll still like me if I put on one of my different personalities.

A lot of times I don't feel like I get to know a person better by spending time with them one-on-one. I may be close to person A, and we might hang out one-on-one and have a great time. But I don't find out things that are going on below surface until person B (who I might not be as close to) joins us to hang out. Person B asks the probing questions that I shy away from... my philosophy being, my friend will volunteer information when she wants to talk, i don't want to force her.

But at the same time, I think probing questions to a certain extent shows the person you're genuinely interested in finding out more about him/her. Afraid to be labeled nosy or the fear of straining the friendship by being too pushy, I tell myself it's better to be "safe" than the possibility of creating tension. I wouldn't even know where to start... what kind of questions to ask. But I think not doing it makes me miss out on forming stronger bonds.

Bottom line? I'm a wimp. I need to take more risks. In life. In love. In general. I have no idea how to start...