People who know me find it hard to believe (but people who REALLY know me find it easy to believe) that I'm really, really shy. I do fine when I'm on my own turf, as in a bookstore or in my classroom, but put me somewhere strange, where I don't know the people around me, and I have extreme difficulty putting myself at ease.
The Hawaii Threads picnic (and a Hawaii Stories picnic before that) were difficult for me, even though I've known Pzarquon and Kilinahe for ten years.
In the past few months, I've been to receptions at the KHPR studios (for winners in the Honolulu Magazine fiction contest) and Oahu Country Club (for Master's degree candidates), and I've shown up for Burt Lum's Bytemarks lunch at the YWCA, each time getting to know some really, really interesting people, but it never gets easier!
I always have to psyche myself up. As I walk to the event from my car, I say, "Smile. Look people in the eye. Say It's Nice to Meet You even if you're not sure it is. Don't spill anything." Out loud. Several times.
The events usually end up just fine, but I'm just about never at ease.
How do you feel about shmoozing, and if you're like me, what are some of your strategies for making it work?
The Hawaii Threads picnic (and a Hawaii Stories picnic before that) were difficult for me, even though I've known Pzarquon and Kilinahe for ten years.
In the past few months, I've been to receptions at the KHPR studios (for winners in the Honolulu Magazine fiction contest) and Oahu Country Club (for Master's degree candidates), and I've shown up for Burt Lum's Bytemarks lunch at the YWCA, each time getting to know some really, really interesting people, but it never gets easier!
I always have to psyche myself up. As I walk to the event from my car, I say, "Smile. Look people in the eye. Say It's Nice to Meet You even if you're not sure it is. Don't spill anything." Out loud. Several times.
The events usually end up just fine, but I'm just about never at ease.
How do you feel about shmoozing, and if you're like me, what are some of your strategies for making it work?
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