@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
You know I've been thinking of this thing called 'over sharing'.
These days I'm convinced a surprising number of people are actually (for want of a better word) STARVING for one on one conversations.
Everywhere I go, I talk to people, all strangers. They might spend 5 or 10 minutes talking to me about a huge variety of things! They tell me some details I'm not sure they'd tell other's.
Just today I went to pay my 1/2 year taxes on my house. I enjoy going to the place because I spend a minute or two talking to the ladies there.
The lady behind the desk was there by herself. No one was in line (today is the last day to pay them). I was very surprised.
I always wait to pay things so the money (it's a lot) can draw interest.
I asked where everyone was and she said they'd all taken leave at the same time. She was pleasant but I could tell she needed to vent a little. She told me about how she'd just been promoted, she was going on vacation and how it's been some time since she's seen some family members and on and on.
I really enjoyed the interaction between the two of us. She said that with the economy so good the place where I lived had hired many more people and we talked about that.
My point? Well, I've always spent time talking with people. I just feel like everyone has a story (that's what I call it....a story).
I don't impose myself on others, but I've found it's very easy to strike up conversations everywhere. I do it at the grocery store....everywhere.
My daughter has been visiting from Denver for a month. She drove here with her dog. She's an adventurer like her Dad. We traveled everywhere when he was alive. My oldest daughter (her sister) is also like that. They've been all over the world with their 4 children.
Anyway, I've come to the point where I do not like the word over-sharing. I see people sitting at a table in a restaurant....they're all on their phones. No one is talking at all...
My question is, why bother meeting with someone if you aren't going to visit with them.
My husband died suddenly in my arms. He'd never been sick and was in incredible shape. He was only 58 years old. The autopsy never found what he died from.
There were no unspoken words when he died. We loved each other (we'd been married since we were almost 19 years old) for 38 years.
You never know when someone is going to die. I don't call it 'pass' I call it die. I know he's in Heaven and that's good enough for me...
Anyway, what are some of your feelings on this? I'm curious. I always say, "I've never met a stranger".
I've met some amazing, kind people. People who've probably gone into a store and never talked to anyone. Most people walk with their heads down, don't make eye-contact.
I do make eye-contact. Maybe that's why we spend a few minutes talking about things. Just recently, I had a conversation with an African American lady. I was standing looking at the nail polish. We started talking. She mentioned she was frustrated about how grey her eyebrows were. I talked to her about what I used (Two-Face brow stuff). Then we talking about the pencils they had there. From there she told me about her family and how they weren't getting along and so on and so on.
I know I'll never see her again. We we talked and when she left we hugged each other good-bye.
I mentioned she was African American because we actually talked about problems with our hair. I've mentioned here before I wea a wig. I told her that. She said her hair is dry and breaks off. She said that's a problem some African American women have. I told her about Wen and how there are ladies on QVC that swear by what it does for their hair. She said she'd look into QVC and Wen.
Just things like that. So, if you want to be my friend, don't talk to me about 'over-sharing'. I don't know what that word means.
My daughter's get a kick out of me. They're used to me talking to people. Just yesterday I was at a restaurant with my youngest (visiting here). We talked to the waitress about how she should visit Denver and on and on. She was delightful. We kept saying, "We'll let you go". She responded, "No! I never take a break". This is my break and I love talking to you guys.
So there you go. You never know some nut like me might come up to you and talk for 2-5 or so minutes and be on my way.
I've walked past people (women) and if they look like they've spent an extra few minutes before they left the house. I'll not stop walking but I'll turn and say, "You look really nice today". And they really did. You can see them straighten up.
Always greet someone with a smile and they'll smile back. It doesn't take much to offer up a smile. It might be the only smile they get that day.
What a special post! And what a special lady you are! Your post really lit up my day and made me smile!!! Thank you so much.
My mother sounded very much like you. She was so kind and not intrusive at all. But she truly loved people and they loved her. She was so honest and open and what you saw, was what you got. If I would take her places --- doctor appointments or wherever, people would just naturally open up to her. She enjoyed sharing little tidbits about every day things with people.
I agree - I think due to a lot of reasons, cell phones might be one of them, that many people are starved for interaction with others. And as you stated, maybe the few words exchanged with a stranger or a smile, might be all the human connection that a person gets for the whole day.
I think if more people shared your philosophy the world would be a much nicer place!
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