How to get him to text you first instead of always waiting

If he responds when you text but never initiates, he likes the attention but not enough to pursue you. That's the whole signal. He's not shy or bad at texting. He's comfortable with you doing the work. Men who want to talk to you find reasons to text you. They think of something funny and want to tell you. They see something that reminds them of you. They don't need an excuse.

The silence doesn't mean no interest. It means low enough interest that he's fine letting you drive the conversation. And as long as you keep texting first, nothing changes because there's nothing pushing him to. He gets the benefit of your attention without having to give anything.

Instead of asking a question or leaving the door open for him to continue, end your text somewhere he can respond to or not without it being weird. A statement. A small piece of news. A funny observation. Something that doesn't demand a reply but welcomes one.

Then actually leave it alone. Don't text again. Don't check if he read it. Let him sit with the fact that you sent something and he now has to decide if he wants to keep talking. This is where men usually either step up and text you back, or stay silent and show you what his priorities are. Both are clean information. No ambiguity.

If he doesn't respond in 3 to 5 days, do not text him again. Stop. That gap is where he figures out if he misses you or if he's fine without the noise in his phone. A week is better. Two weeks teaches him that you're not holding space for him indefinitely.

When you finally text again, if you do, treat it like the first text. No mention of the silence. No 'finally hearing from you.' Just text like normal. If this pattern repeats and he keeps you waiting weeks between your messages, he's told you he doesn't prioritize you. At that point, stop texting first altogether. You'll know what to do.