This has given me an urge to re-read Pride and Prejudice, but aside from that very spot on advice on the importance of challenging convention and make people feel at ease when speaking to them.
This is something I really needed to hear (or read).
I read it during Mahler's 2nd symphony intermission and it touched me on a deeper level.
I could relate to the person who asked the question even if in my case the issue is slightly different: it tend to overshare. I enjoy talking to interesting people so much that I tend to remove all the social filters. It all seems to go smoothly, but after the pleasant social event the overthinking creeps up on me and makes me rethink everything I did or said: was everyone bored? Was I inappropriate? Were they as interested in me as I was in them?
See? I just did it again!
Maybe it should have been a question for your agony aunt column. :)
Btw, loved the Austen references and the advice. Never predictable or banal, your insights have become one of my favourite things lately. Love you!
Thank you so much for this lovely comment! Having listened to some of your "overshares" I can reassure you that they are always interesting, and never inappropriate :-) I think that being open and ready to offer thoughts, opinions and vulnerability is a beautiful quality that others will respond to positively, 99 times out of 100. Love you too!
I would say that the easiest and simplest way to start a conversation is to ask a question. After that all you have to do is respond to their response. A conversation will soon emerge. The details of the answer above are useful but responding to their answers is all you need to do. If a story emerges in your mind tell it but it isn’t a necessary part of any conversation.
This has given me an urge to re-read Pride and Prejudice, but aside from that very spot on advice on the importance of challenging convention and make people feel at ease when speaking to them.
Thanks Cristina! Always a good time to reread pride and prejudice 😉
This is really excellent!
This is something I really needed to hear (or read).
I read it during Mahler's 2nd symphony intermission and it touched me on a deeper level.
I could relate to the person who asked the question even if in my case the issue is slightly different: it tend to overshare. I enjoy talking to interesting people so much that I tend to remove all the social filters. It all seems to go smoothly, but after the pleasant social event the overthinking creeps up on me and makes me rethink everything I did or said: was everyone bored? Was I inappropriate? Were they as interested in me as I was in them?
See? I just did it again!
Maybe it should have been a question for your agony aunt column. :)
Btw, loved the Austen references and the advice. Never predictable or banal, your insights have become one of my favourite things lately. Love you!
Thank you so much for this lovely comment! Having listened to some of your "overshares" I can reassure you that they are always interesting, and never inappropriate :-) I think that being open and ready to offer thoughts, opinions and vulnerability is a beautiful quality that others will respond to positively, 99 times out of 100. Love you too!
I would say that the easiest and simplest way to start a conversation is to ask a question. After that all you have to do is respond to their response. A conversation will soon emerge. The details of the answer above are useful but responding to their answers is all you need to do. If a story emerges in your mind tell it but it isn’t a necessary part of any conversation.
Good advice, Rory. You’re right, questions are key!
Thank you 🤩