Gary Direnfeld

Well, one of them is being authentic about yourself, yet not being miserable if that's your authentic self.

Okay, well, you're giving me bad advice because I'm miserable, but go on.

I know, I'm contradicting myself.

Go figure.

She would always find something nice about that other person.

To share back with them.

She was, in a sense, complimentary, but she's never blowing smoke up someone's derriere.

Being a good listener.

What are we talking about?

Being concerned for the other.

She would bring, you know, if she knew somebody liked something, she'd bring a little gift.

Right, being thoughtful.

You know, just showing up.

And so for my mother, these relationships grew organically.

She wasn't out to make friends.

And I think that's an important aspect of this.

Yeah, I can't make you, in a sense, my friend.

I can engage in friendly behaviors myself that may, in a sense, endear you, and we get to know each other, and we may have a few things in common.

There, you use the word connected.

Yes, because I was about to, you said, you know, what do people who are lonely feel?