“Well goodbye, and good luck with your new kitties.” I wave to the people I have just spent a half hour talking to in the pet store, and turn to a friend who grimaces, and says, do you know everybody?
“Umm, I don’t know them” I reply.
“What? Well how about the other person you were talking to at the door, and that guy from the discount store, and those people that you were talking to last week in the supermarket.”
Nope, don’t know them either.
The look on her face is pretty much the same as the one my husband gets on his when I finish talking to perfect strangers. It’s one of how do you get into conversations with strangers, and end up talking to them for so long.
It’s easy, work retail for most of your life, starting a convo with a stranger is second nature. I’m the one at the party who cruises to the new people layering the edges of the room, and starts talking.
You end up meeting the nicest people, and having the best conversations. I meet people in line ups at the supermarket, in the library, at parks, buying pet food, and in my retail job.
Some of them know me “from somewhere”, or think “you look familiar.” And if you are a gardener in the area that I live in, yes I am the person that worked at that nursery for over 15 years. So you do know me, and yes, it’s a small world.
I am the person that you turn to in the grocery aisle, when you are wondering if parsnips are any good. They are delicious roasted. And when you are deciding about a new shampoo, I am the person who tells you how much I love the coconut one.
I get to meet the nicest of people, and they all tell me stories of their lives, I am sure we all do it. It’s just a perk of being human, and socializing.
Funny thing is, I was extremely shy when I was a child. I mean totally embarrassed to speak up, seriously tongue tied, couldn’t say hello….and now I am Mrs. Gregarious. Nice to meet you!
So you? Do you talk to strangers? Are you a social butterfly, as my husband puts it? Or are you the one that I have to coax out of your shell? Spill….
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I do and my kids hate it!
ReplyDeleteIf I'm with my husband I can't get a word in edge-wise.
ReplyDeleteIt just depends Jen, lol.
ReplyDeleteJen, I totally understand~I've met the nicest people just visiting with them in stores. The other day a woman and I chatted about which prepared foods from the deli were worth the expense! Lovely photos. gail
ReplyDeleteJen your paragraph under your beautiful flower, about being shy-me too. Retail work will change that! I am sending you an email with a question :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I do talk to strangers. I was in sales most of my life. I acted in community theater as an adult and I was a cheerleader in HS. SO I am used to talking to 100's of people as well as one on one.
ReplyDeleteYou meet the nicest people when you talk to strangers. In fact some of our best friends we met at a sidewalk cafe in Rome, Italy!
As a matter of fact....I do. Just yesterday while at a restaurant for lunch, the waitress seemed kinda nervous and I started talking to her. Come to find out it was her first day on the job and she seemed so much more relaxed after our little 'nice to know you' conversation.
ReplyDeleteI love talking to strangers too -- I've always said that some of my best friends are the checkers at grocery stores (or waiters, etc.)! Not the least bit uncomfortable in those situations and I love hearing their stories!
ReplyDeleteI often talk to strangers in line ups or sometimes when I see something that I think is extraordinary when I am out walking. People in line ups are pretty easy to start a conversation with but out and about I sometimes get some odd looks. If they don't want to see what I am pointing at, a pilliated woodpecker for instance, that's their problem I guess. A lot of people are just in too much of a hurry.
ReplyDeleteJen, I'm like you. I also worked in retail and that really helped me get 'out of my shell' I think. I'm always making comments to people while looking at certain food in the grocery or at the checkout. Sometimes they just look at me and don't say much and other times we might get into a great conversation. I was always shy and insecure but not so much now. We do get to meet some very nice people though. Great topic to discuss! Have a good weekend. Pamela
ReplyDeleteI'm exactly the same - crazy shy as a kid, now I'll talk to anybody about anything anywhere. Must be the retail angle or maybe we're just country folk at heart.
ReplyDeleteI'm a lot like you. Not a party person though, but will chat to anyone and everyone. My besty only commented the other week how she admires my ability to just talk to people I don't know. Life is short, speak up, because you never know who you might meet or what you might learn. have a great weekend. Jane x
ReplyDeleteIt depends upon which of my multiple personalities is in charge....
ReplyDelete;o)
Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin
Hi Jen, great post! I recently started a job after being a stay at home mom for many years. I'm the front desk person so I chat it up with everyone who comes in or walks by. It's really interesting the things people will tell you. We all just want to be accepted. A smile and "how ya doin'?" can go a long way towards making someone's day.
ReplyDeleteI used to be so painfully shy I could barely speak if it wasn't someone I knew really well. And then I opened a store. WTHeck!? I couldn't tell people how much the purchase was. They had to look at the cash register. Then slowly but surely I got used to people, then I liked them, and now nine years later I LOVE people. I can speak in front of small groups. I keep pushing that boundary. My life is soooo much better this way.
ReplyDeleteI'd give my eye teeth to be able to talk to strangers. My mother did and she made friends through her friendly nature BUT I have just been lost in her shadow. She is no longer with us and I still can't do it.
ReplyDeleteDeb
I love talking with strangers - they're some of the best people I've ever met! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jen. Have a happy weekend ~ Zuzu
I worked in retail for many years and was quite at ease with being social. Now, it's a bit different, I am more reserved. However, when I'm behind the booth, selling my wares at holiday bazaars and Saturday Markets, that old retail hat come back on with ease. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat exquisite shots of flowers! I talk to strangers - yes! After all, they might become a new friend...
ReplyDeleteJen I was always a shy child and shy adult. In my job I am very social but at home or in a situation with all strangers I am still the wall flower. Of course my husband is the social butterfly. He is constantly chatting it up and knows everyone... Love the dahlia pictures...
ReplyDeleteI am one of the shy people, but once you are a friend ...
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers! I was shy but am very much a people person although I am not keen on huge crowds. I think I talk to much to our patrons sometimes as I engage in conversation with them and like to make them feel welcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm sooo like you! I can chat for hours with perfect strangers. However, I would seriously rather be shot than stand up and speak before a group. My husband is just the opposite...perfectly comfortable behind a podium and unable to chit-chat with strangers. Guess we compliment each other.
ReplyDeleteI always talk to strangers..I have met some great people that way! I am sure if you and I were in a store together we would talk to each other!! :)
ReplyDeleteJen, I too can get even a turnip to talk to me. LOL thinking about sitting next to an oversize turnip.
ReplyDelete