[skobes]

Once I realized that some people expect and are happy for you to jump in with unprompted thoughts or stories, it became easier for me to be intentional about doing so.

I think I'm a lot better now than when I was younger at adapting to a wide range of conversational styles, mostly just from paying more attention to that dynamic.

Do you feel like your conversational toolbox has evolved over time? :)

[neogodless]

Ha, yes a bit! Not interrupting or talking over someone was drilled into me in childhood, but exposure to different family dynamics helped me learn that it's not a universal value, and that I can adapt and adjust my communication styles for different groups and situations.

That's still a bit of a struggle to push myself to "speak out of turn" and ensure my voice is included in a discussion.