Hard talks often go better side by side, on a walk or in the car, than staring at each other across a table.

Facing someone directly adds pressure to a conversation that is already heavy. Side by side, in a car or walking, there is somewhere else to put your eyes, and the silences stop feeling like standoffs. The movement gives the whole thing a rhythm and an ending. It is the reason difficult things get said on drives home.

If something needs saying to a parent or a friend, ask them to walk instead of sitting down. Start it after a few minutes, once the quiet is comfortable.