Mindful while allowing

Sometimes it's so hard to know the type of friend your friend needs; needs you to be in the moment.

What do you guys think? How does a conversation work, or is supposed to?

Are we supposed to just listen, or give our own advice and insights, because we relate.

Obviously situations are different, but there is usually always something we can relate on.

When I give advice, insight, and own similar situations/relate, I am just trying to help (if that is what is needed in the moment).

Also that is how a conversation works, back and forth?

Sometimes you just need to tell a story, sure, but also, you could

1) forget a thought in a conversation if you wait until the end of the story

2) miss clarifying an important detail (that will make the rest of the story better)

3) miss a tangent funny story (again, if that is what is desired)

It's not about social skills or experience, you can have had plenty of social situations. Everytime is different anyway.

But how do you just know?