You know, I used to be really awkward. Like, terrible at talking to people. And terrified OF talking to people. Which made me weird & twitchy and terrible at talking to people. Which made me terrified, and full circle.
And now that I'm a grown up (more or less), I realize I'm not the only one. Several of my friends have social anxiety, and looking back, I can tell my mom had it too.
I got better at talking to people when I worked at Borders. All the other people there were weirdos who liked the same obscure things I did. They were easy to talk to. And then... after that, even "normal" people were easier to talk to. Maybe also because I was getting older? I've noticed that the older people are, the less they care about the unimportant bullshit about a person, and are less concerned with trying to protect their own image from looking uncool. People like that are the best. And I try to emulate them.
Hence, I now have a great time at parties. I LOVE meeting new people. They all like me. I feel like I'm one of the popular kids. I still have insecurities once in awhile, I worry about being too loud and obnoxious, but... I shove that in the corner and let myself out, who I am, and am liked!
I was thinking of this because my friend Jenny had a party this weekend. It was great... the first half was more like the gathering me and most of my friends usually have, just a few people, all that I'm close with, and always have fun with. It was great... partially because it was an impromptu baby shower for my friend Diana. Jenny had cooked up this activity where she had printed out photos of Diana & her husband Luke, and then she had me and Wendy cut out features and glue them to a baby face to "guess" what their child would look like. Wendy & I gleefully made the pictures as terrible as possible, both freely admitting at the outset that their little girl would definitely get Luke's beard in these pictures. We one-upped each other as much as possible and everyone laughed and laughed. It was wonderful.
Then, later on, other people showed up, as that part was a birthday party for Jenny. Jenny throws really good parties, she always knows all these fun & interesting people who come by. I, for one, no matter how confident I've become, have trouble making aquaintances into real friends or getting them to show up at my house for a party or activity, but somehow Jenny does it.
Anyway, Jenny later texted me. It made me realize how far I've come, and also how nice/good of a friend Jenny is to say something like this!
Jenny: Glad you came! You did a great job of breaking the ice for people and made everyone feel comfortable."
Me: Aww thanks! I'm glad, I had fun too!
Jenny: Yeah, you were hilarious! It was great!
Me: Haha, I try. You're awesome too!
Jenny: Why thanks! So glad Jeremy has you...perfect wife.
Me: That's what I tell him!
I giggled at the bit about me being a perfect wife out loud. Jeremy wanted to know why, and I showed him. He said, "Why laugh about that? It's true! You are the perfect wife!" He is so sweet... I think I snagged the perfect husband, myself :D
