Polly Hudson has made a new friend, but the process has been fraught with anxiety, comparing it to dating and questioning every thought, action, and WhatsApp message. The friendship began unexpectedly in a waiting room for a kids' activity, sparked by a conversation about a celebrity and a funny, sweary comment.
An unexpected connection
The two women hit it off immediately, discovering they had an astonishing amount in common, including having worked in the same building 20 years prior. Their children also got along, providing a convenient excuse to exchange numbers without admitting the real reason. Hudson describes the experience as fate, likening it to the movie Sliding Doors.
The anxiety of new friendship
After the initial excitement wore off, Hudson plunged into neurosis, worrying about who should send the first message and how to strike the right balance between seeming keen and playing it cool. She put more thought into her outfit for their first meet-up than for her wedding dress, aiming to appear effortlessly put-together.
The first dinner was magical, filled with shared laughter and the joy of meeting someone of the same mindset and life stage. However, Hudson admits to overthinking afterward, worrying she talked too much or overshared, only to receive a reassuring message from her new friend who was feeling the same way.
A keeper despite the pretense
Recently, the friend provided incredible support during a tricky time, both practically and emotionally, shifting the friendship out of the honeymoon phase. Hudson declares her a keeper, though she worries about the moment her friend discovers she is "at least 37% less fun" than she is currently pretending to be, acknowledging that old dating habits die hard.
