My husband always teases me that I can talk to anybody in almost any situation. I was not always like that. I'm very blessed to be in a recovery program that has regular meetings every week. I've been clean and sober for many years now. Very early in my recovery a sponsor instructed me to greet every person at any meeting I went to and introduce myself. I try to do that to this day. Ironically my husband is a somewhat introverted person but used to sell cars for a living. He too had to learn how to reach out to people and greet them pleasantly.
Dogs are a great way to make that quick connection. I know more folks in my neighborhood because of their dogs. I may not know their name, although a few have moved past the kindly letting me smoosh the doggos and I actually know their name as well. But even if I don't remember them, the dogs remember me, and the conversation starts. I've been practicing saying yes when someone says let's meet for coffee, wanna come over for breakfast, we're all going here do you wanna come with. I'm happy to talk to strangers, but the intimate connections made in one to one conversations with friends, new and old, is sometimes overwhelming. But I'm practicing.
Really appreciate your post today. I've stopped greeting where I live. So often met with stony silences. So sensitive took it all personally. I'm lonely often. I moved from home and my land. To a country less forthcoming. I've not adjusted. Miss the daily interactions. I tend towards introversion but here it's too much for me, what I experience as lack of human-ness. Time to go... warmth is so important. To know we exist.
My husband always teases me that I can talk to anybody in almost any situation. I was not always like that. I'm very blessed to be in a recovery program that has regular meetings every week. I've been clean and sober for many years now. Very early in my recovery a sponsor instructed me to greet every person at any meeting I went to and introduce myself. I try to do that to this day. Ironically my husband is a somewhat introverted person but used to sell cars for a living. He too had to learn how to reach out to people and greet them pleasantly.
Aw I got this book for free at a reading event & then had a little book club about it! I wish I got to meet Dr. Ruth
Dogs are a great way to make that quick connection. I know more folks in my neighborhood because of their dogs. I may not know their name, although a few have moved past the kindly letting me smoosh the doggos and I actually know their name as well. But even if I don't remember them, the dogs remember me, and the conversation starts. I've been practicing saying yes when someone says let's meet for coffee, wanna come over for breakfast, we're all going here do you wanna come with. I'm happy to talk to strangers, but the intimate connections made in one to one conversations with friends, new and old, is sometimes overwhelming. But I'm practicing.
Dogs definitely bring people together. Bravo for your efforts to reach out. We need to keep trying.
Really appreciate your post today. I've stopped greeting where I live. So often met with stony silences. So sensitive took it all personally. I'm lonely often. I moved from home and my land. To a country less forthcoming. I've not adjusted. Miss the daily interactions. I tend towards introversion but here it's too much for me, what I experience as lack of human-ness. Time to go... warmth is so important. To know we exist.
Now we here at the Substack know you exist, Claire. Keep trying. One of these days, someone will smile back.