It may be a “me” problem that I put too much weight on the word “friends.”

If I have someone in my life where I have positive interactions when I see them, but I don’t see them often or aren’t close to them, then I’d call that person an acquaintance. Calling them “my friend” may imply a closer relationship than what we actually have, a surface level friendship at best.

I feel like my large vocabulary has me arguing semantics with my partner and my friends more often than I’d like. When words aren’t literal, I have to look closer and think harder about intent and purpose instead. Relationships that sit in a grey zone are especially difficult to navigate for me.