I am an introvert. I like listening to the quiet around me and being alone or with just a few friends. I have a fear that I will totally mess up interpersonal moments – especially with strangers – so I rehearse imagined conversations a lot.
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Yesterday I was at the bookstore. I had ordered a London Fog and browsed through the stacks. I had quite a lovely time. I made my selections and walked up to the cash register for *cue scary music* HUMAN INTERACTION!!!
The cashier looked like a nice person. “Hey, what’s up?” She asked.
Genius that I am, I replied, ” Good thanks.”
A moment of awkward silence followed. I decided to acknowledge the elephant in the room: “That’s completely not what you asked.”
At this point the cashier started to laugh. So I added, “Introverts of the world unite!”
She giggled harder and then added, ” From the safety of our own homes.”
We both chuckled as she rang up my book, and as I left she wished me a happy time “safe at home.”
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I used to be good at talking to people. Or at least I didn’t make a fool of myself. Next time I’m making my husband check out for me.