How can I become better at having conversations?

Dear Shepard,

Social anxiety is perfectly normal and almost everyone has it, even if it doesn’t seem like it. The only difference between a natural conversationalist and someone a little more socially awkward is just confidence. Practicing doing things that scare you, and talking to more people helps you get more comfortable with the idea. If something feels awkward, acknowledge it in the conversation, and it becomes significantly less awkward. If you want to talk to someone, just remember, people LOVE to talk about themselves, even if they don’t admit it. If all else fails, ask them about their day, or what they like to do. Sometimes a good listener is exactly what someone needs. Go into every conversation with the mentality that you have valuable things to say and the rest will come naturally!