Saying "HI!"

[5ft Diva]

Have you ever been in a store or taking a walk and saw someone before they saw you and then pretended that you never saw them because you were too embarrassed to say hi? Now, I know I'm not the only one who's done this. . .

Do you still have a hard time saying hi in those kinds of situations or is it easy for you now? If you have mastered this ability - how did you do it? How about perfect strangers? Are you able to say hello or even strike up a conversation w/ a perfect stranger easily?

[Dia Minha]

Oh my yes. Usually it is with people I'm not comfortable with anyway. Diva if I were to see you I wouldn't hesitate to say hi, unless I was in a big hurry, because I know what a simple "hi", would start.

Just yesterday my daughter and I were at Wal-mart and ran into a member of the ward. He is older and hard of hearing and it is uncomfortable to try in talk to him in a noisy place, because he can't understand you very well. He was intently looking at a display so we just snuck right by him. He could have reached out and touched us we were so close. If I had been in a better mood, I probably would have at least said hi, while walking quickly by, but I was already in a bad mood. However, just earlier we ran into one of our favorite teachers at both at the grocery store and at the hair saloon and we stopped to talk to her and her kids both times.

So I guess for me it depends on the person and what kind of mood I'm in. A lot of times I'm at the store, because I needed to get away and I don't want to talk to anyone.

[bookworm]

Once again, I'm like Dia- it depends on the person and what I've got going on- do I have time for a chat? When it's a good friend whom I haven't seen in a while, I will try to stop whether I feel I have time or not. The older gentleman in my ward who likes to chat, though-- I hide from him. I don't know what to say! I'm a chicken.

No, I don't strike up conversations with strangers very easily. Sometimes I can chat with the person checking me out at the store, but sometimes I get a funny vibe, or I'm feeling a little introverted and I just clam up.

However, I try to smile at everyone I see who catches my eye, even if they don't smile. I like to think I'm friendly, but sometimes I am just a big fat chicken about conversations.

[5ft Diva]

I've enjoyed reading these. I feel the same. Sometimes I'm really shy (hard to imagine, I know) and sometimes I'm not shy. The thing that gives me courage to strike up a conversation w/ a perfect stranger is realizing they're just like me and that they probably have something worth hearing. (I'm a person who likes to learn from others - kind of drives my hubby crazy.)