talk to strangers

on the streetcar and it turns out two of them work in my building; one on my floor. I think its just a matter of time before I strike up a conversation with at least one of them.

I did this one night I was walking alone downtown at night, having nothing better to do. I sat at a bench and figuring out what to do when an African man walked by and said hello, and it turned out he was from Gambia. We had a nice chat in English and Spanish, about music and cultural differences. I tried to explain to him that in Norway you never, by no means, talk to random people on the street, but that it’s a silly cultural thing up here. Later the same night I met a boy from Ghana, he was nice, but very ongoing about getting my phone number and I said no. I don’t know if I should be more open towards people, but I don’t really like giving out my phone number to random people.

I AM SUPERMAN

I am a earth man

Definately need to do this – my aim is to talk to strangers whenever I can. I’m going to start off small – asking the time, directions etc. and then work my way up from there.

This will be tough for me as I’m naturally quite shy.

I’m a very friendly person and can be quite outgoing but I realized recently that I don’t go out of my way to talk to strangers. Sure I strike up conversations with cashiers, servers and people that kind of have to acknowledge me and occasionally I’ll talk to someone at the park or on the bus. I don’t think bars, parties or clubs count because Amber with a few drinks in her talks to everybodyyyyyy. That brings up a good point: that in a drinking enviornment I have no problem whatsoever striking up a conversation with anyone and yet sober I assume people are too busy or uninterested in talking to me. hmmmppppfffftttt

Anyway…I was walking home from my hike last night and a woman was walking in front of me with a super cute dog and I wanted to ask what kind of dog it was but instead of just doing so, I debated with myself about doing so and then she turned down a different street. Lame. I immediately thought about adding this goal and now I have so… watch out now.

dont knoww

Join a club, take a class, go out with people who you think would never ever be friend material. Change your point of view. Make a list of the things you wish your friends did for you. Then do those things for other people even though you question if they deserve it. This is HARD, and there may be no benefit for you immediately – but it changes the way you look at yourself and makes you more confident.

I’m trying to say that you need to become the things that you want.
—MarkPA

to get friends you have to go out and look for them. Every person won’t turn into a lifelong pal, but you have to take the time to get to know people. I plan to look for situations where I can really get to know people – volunteering, perhaps, or in community groups – instead of depending on casual acquaintances I might meet at work. Once you leave your job, those friendships tend to fall away.

And secondly, you have to change yourself. Sometimes you have to ask people for what you want. This is hard for me, because I’m a shy person and I don’t really feel comfortable saying “I need this” or “I want that”. But most people are somewhat clueless (myself included!) They can’t read your mind. If I tell a friend, “I really appreciate it when you call me and I don’t always have to call you”, most of them will get the message.
—KayWWW

because i’m sick of being crippled by shyness!

hi this is me honey