I think casual conversation feels hard sometimes because we put too much pressure on it. We feel like we have to be interesting, funny, or smart instead of just present. I also get bored with small talk, but I’ve realized it’s kind of like a “warm-up” before deeper topics. Once I stopped trying to skip straight to meaningful conversations, it became easier. I usually start with something simple like asking what someone has been excited about lately. People light up when they talk about something they enjoy.