call people back

I thought I was only asshole who had an issue with this. Before I read these entries, I would watch my friends and family members who’d seem to effortlessly receive a phone message (or email) and then immediately call the person back. I was never able to do this for many of the reasons indicated by those who commented before me. Like—I don’t feel like talking on the phone, I’m not a phone person, I’m hiding the fact that I’m not happy, or I trick myself into thinking that I’ll call later (when I’m up for talking) ....

But now I’m realizing that friends are dropping off. They’re not interested in being the only party that makes the effort to keep in touch. I’m can’t afford to lose friends. Life is short! So here I go. I’m calling you back folks!

I called 6 people back last night. I got in touch with 4 of them, and hey, 4 out of 6 is good, very good!

Six people got calls from me last night. Me, the person who has a hard time picking up the phone when it rings and calling people back despite the sweet messages they leave for me. I’m working hard on this goal and I think I will soon be able to accomplish it.

Calling people just to chat feels so good. I need to do it more. I talked to Keeton, my best friend Carrie, Wynne, and Liz last night. It felt so good to connect with people who care about me.

People I still need to call back:

-Jordan
-Pavel
-Leland
-Mackenzie

im so bad at this..that it is a joke amongst my friends :(

I just really don’t like talking on the phone..and really..i’m selfish..if i don’t feel like talking..then i just ignore it..but then feel stupid because i’ve waited so long that i don’t end up calling them.

i think i need to have the rule that we had at work..all voicemails need to be returned within 3 hours..or at least by the end of the day if i’m swamped.

calling people back is a good habit, it establishes healthy relationships and takes hardly any time.

This one is hard to accomplish without some details. I’m terrible at calling ppl back, answering my phone, and replying to emails immediately.

So. 1. I can still screen my calls, but the person calling HAS to be on my no call list..that may sound mean, but if they’re on it, its for good reason, otherwise I MUST answer if at all possible.

2. If I miss a call, I must chech voicemails at the next available appropriate time.

3. If it is someone not on my list, I must call back within 3 hours (assuming I am not asleep when they called).

4. Emails must be responded to within 24 hours- (most as soon as i open them

5. I must make at least 1 phone call to a friend or family member for no benefit of my own every day…just to talk and see how they’re doing.

I’ll keep an update on how i’m following my new rules.

That I understood why I don’t call people back. From time to time it seems a little selfish, I’ll just ignore someone that’s calling me, they’ll leave a voice mail, and I’ll leave it on my phone for a couple of days. By the time I listen to it, it doesn’t pertain to anything anymore, and so I don’t call back. I’ll also tell someone, I’ve gotta go, I’ll call you back in a few, and then go days or even weeks without talking to them again too.

I’m going to start returning calls dammit.

I called three people today and one of them actually came over and visited me as a result. Just because I made the effort to call. It’s great.

I hate talking on the phone. I hate everything about it: slowly dialing the number to be sure you’ve got the right one. Then if you get the wrong number you feel like a dipshit. If, on the other hand, you get your friend’s number right, and they’re not home, you have to leave a message. Or ask for them and listen while their little brother screams their name over and over, right in your ear. Then you actually talk to your friend and the conversation sucks. How do you say goodbye? Make up an excuse to get off the phone? Just simply say goodbe and hang up? Act like a ditzy receptionist and be all polite about it?

Ugh. I hate the phone. I love caller ID because no one knows we have it. People leave a voice mail message and I tell them we were late on the phone bill and the voice mail isn’t working.

Again, I hate the phone.

ive gotten alot better at this
i’ve accomplished this goal
finally.

Im actually getting much better at this after years of issues. Far from a full recovery but progress has been made.