Dear Eric: I recently had lunch with an old friend. We have known each other for more than 50 years and get together three or four times a year to catch up.

On my way home, I realized that every time I talked about something, either my family or something I had done, my friend couldn’t wait to “best” me with her story. She didn’t ask one question, just moved the subject to her. Why do people do that? It won’t break our friendship, but I won’t be the person who reaches out next. – One Upped

Dear Upped: More often than not, I think this habit is a sign of insecurity or a desire to impress. Or both. It can be annoying but, when I encounter it, I tend to see it as evidence that the person to whom I’m speaking doesn’t know how to make a connection effectively.

Ask yourself what you want f

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