Socialising

I have a confession...  I am really quite shy. This will surprise a number of people who know me, because once I am in the swing of things, I seem very at ease with groups of people.  Truth be told, I'm a one-on-one kind of girl that struggles with mingling. 


The Opportunity

Image: Catherine Hadler

This morning I was invited to a writer's workshop by Adin Van Ryneveld (the No Money Guy).  Trying to make sure that I was still in my comfort zone, I got one of my friends to sign up as well, so that I would know at least one person there and thus avoid the dreaded social awkwardness of lurking around clutching my cup of coffee as though it is a shield against the world, and trying not to look desperate as I contemplate actually starting up a conversation with someone.


The 'crisis'
As luck would have it, my friend told me the day before that she wasn't going to make it, and I'd already committed.  Sure enough, I arrived, got some tea, and scanned the room.  There were 190 people huddled in small groups of 3-8 people each.  I felt my body tightening as I imagined myself like a 3D photobomber intruding on the conversational groups.  I thought about getting my cell phone out and using it as a gadgety defense - like holding it meant that I wasn't really out of the group, but rather just too busy to chat to anyone at the moment.

The practice

Image: Francesco Marino

I realised that this was a perfect challenge for me - I am constantly advising clients to face and conquer their fears and I am the kind of person who practices what I preach.  So I sucked it up and looked for other lone souls.  I met a fabulous woman from Wellington - Dawn Jorgensen (Primitiv Vodka - handcrafted ORGANIC VODKA) as I hovered around the water table, and then when we went to sit down, we chanced upon another fantastic soul, who let me pick his brain on Seach Engine Optimisation - Tony Seifert (Webexposure, and Secrets2Success).  

The upside

I also got a chance to meet Adin in person, which was lovely, because although I am introverted and hide behind a computer most of the time, I thoroughly enjoy meeting people and forging new relationships.  ....Of course there was that one time (nothing to do with band camp), when Josh was 4 months, I reached out to help a new mom, who ended up being a crazy Italian woman who decided to tell me that the reason I had my miscarriages is because I wasn't using the "natural billing method" (Is that like an old fashioned whore?).. but that is the rarity, and it is good to get back out there and meet some people who are better than normal - they're like me :).

Images courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/