I was talking to my friend about how hard it is to sustain a conversation with said person, for our sakes, let’s call said person Becky.

“No matter what I bring up, Becky gets offended. A simple conversation always seems to backlash at me, and it causes me to feel guilty. I can talk about finals, and next thing I know, she says, 'I have a learning disability.' Instantly I feel guilty and have to apologize, and then drop the conversation.”

My friend quickly responds, “Yeah, she’s like talking to a pinecone.” I laugh, and say, “A pine cone?” and she goes “Yeah, the longer you hold the conversation the pricklier it gets—soon it gets so prickly that all you can do is drop it.”

Analogies have always been my favorite, but I have most definitely never heard of that one used before; which made me love it even more. So let me tell you what it’s like to talk to a pinecone.

Talking to a person that is like a pinecone is rather difficult. Especially because the person is already hard on himself or herself internally, which causes them to build a wall and have their guard up.

Now, this wall—it’s no ordinary wall; it’s like a skyscraper, no matter what you say or do, you can’t get over it. It’s like climbing Mount Everest in a day—tiring, exhausting, and practically impossible.

Getting to know the pinecone is even more difficult—especially when every conversation turns into a prickly subject. The longer you hold that conversation, the longer you have to feel guilt. The easy way out is to just drop the conversation, but is that the best way? I myself don’t really care for confrontation, so I prefer just dropping the conversation. However that often leads me with guilt and pessimistic feelings.

So what should you do?

Hold on.

Through several trials, I learned to hold onto that conversation and not drop it. Yes, you may feel pain, and yes you will want to leave, but hold on, because that dropped pinecone needs some attention and love—you might be the only person that will hold on. Don’t let their prickly ways get in the way of your conversation.

So please—hold on, that pinecone is fragile and needs you.