[Moxie.]

Hey there,

I'm sorry you're going through this! Having crushes on friends is always tough, especially when you believe those feelings aren't reciprocated.

Your mentality about letting things play out as they will truly is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. After all, in the same way that you can't change how you feel, you can't force someone else's feelings to change. Accepting things for what they are and continuing to be grateful for the friendship that you're building with this person will hopefully help ease the pain over time.

It may also be helpful for you to set boundaries relating to conversations you have with them. These can be boundaries that you verbally state or boundaries that you intentionally keep for yourself. For example, you could tell your friend that you don't feel comfortable having conversations about dating at this time. You don't even have to tell them why! However, if you don't feel comfortable doing that, you can always make an effort to redirect the conversation when those things come up.

Finding ways to distract yourself can also be really helpful in this situation. Finding a hobby, spending time getting to know new people, or taking time to practice self-care when the feelings are a bit more intense can all help you cope with the difficulty that you're facing.

I hope the things you're feeling become less intense soon!

Take care,
Sam