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The Death of Common Courtesy
I was standing in line at Chipotle the other day, trying to decide whether I was going to be healthy and get brown rice in my bowl or throw caution to the wind a get the white rice, when two men walked through the door and joined the line behind me. I normally wouldn’t have noticed them, except for the fact that they were having a very loud conversation that was liberally peppered with vulgarity, swears, and references to various parts of the female anatomy. I should probably mention at this point that my nine-year-old daughter was in line with me, and the restaurant had several other children sitting at…
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Small Talk
I’ve been watching a lot of Monk reruns lately. I love trying to figure out the case and identify the murderer before Monk or the police do. Plus, I can relate to Monk. I don’t suffer from his phobias, but I am socially awkward. Like Monk, I have a hard time making small talk with co-workers and acquaintances. Monk deals with this problem by making conversation flash cards. He writes down questions, anecdotes, facts about pop culture, and even commentary on sporting events on flashcards. Then he will pull these cards out of his pocket and read them verbatim during a discussion. It’s pretty awkward. While I don’t recommend walking…
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The Acquaintance Zone
Do you have a hard time letting people into your life? I often hear people talking about being relegated to the “friendship zone.” They are usually talking about not being taken seriously as a romantic partner. They would like to be seen as a potential romantic interest, but the object of their affection has made it clear that they can only be friends. Introverts tend to take this concept to a whole other level. We take people who simply want to be our friends, and we regulate them to the “acquaintance zone.” Sometimes we do this without even realizing it. I know that I have been in situations where someone…
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Reaching Your People Limit
Do you ever feel as if you’ve reached your people limit? Like you’ve had all the social interaction you can handle, and if you’re forced to converse with one more person today, it won’t be pretty? I do. I start off the day with the best of intentions. Maybe my husband has planned an outing for us and his friends. Maybe I’m spending the day with the in-laws. Or maybe I’ve planned a fun-filled day for the family. I tell myself that the day will be great. I’m going to be fun and bubbly. I’m going to be kind and nice. I’m going to keep all the snarky comments that…
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Does Being An Introvert Make You A Bad Christian?
As Christians, we are taught to love one another. There is an old song that says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” This means that love is the mark of a true Christian. Most people associate love with friendliness, kindness, and a welcoming spirit. If this is the case, then a true Christian is supposed to greet everyone at church. They should be eager to welcome people into their homes. They should befriend everyone at school or work and treat them like family. When I picture the ideal loving Christian, I picture a kind grandma who always has a warm smile and baked goodies ready for all…
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The Problem With Playdates
As a parent, it is my job to make sure my child develops the social skills she will need to successfully navigate her way through life. This can be a daunting task for someone who is uncomfortable in most social situations. But, because I love my child, I try to rise to the occasion. When my child was in daycare, providing her with social interaction was easy. She got to play with other children all day long at daycare. On the weekends, I could take her to the park where she would run off and make new friends quickly with other children. All I had to do was keep an…
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Sunday Morning
I don’t know about you, but when I go to church, I like to sit in my pew and soak in the word of God. Undisturbed. Going to church helps me to feel rejuvenated. It fuels me up for the week and gives me a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Over the course of the week, I can get sidetracked and overwhelmed with work, relationships, and mistakes I made. I can become obsessed with things that I want or new hobbies I have to try or deadlines I need to meet. But when I go to church, all of that falls away. I can sing the hymns, read the…