It's All Just Talk

Bla bla bla. Sometimes I get frustrated by the little games we play. “Hey, how’s it going?” “Fine, you?” “Oh, just fine thanks.” Friendliness is good. I endorse friendliness. Talk is good. It is the gateway to relationship.

Fact of the matter is, I just ain’t good at speechifyin’. I find it difficult to meet ten new people in a day and check up on the well-being of fifteen acquaintances. Nor do I enjoy all twenty-five of them wanting to know my life story and how each of my classes went and whether I’m settling in and what I think of Australian culture and have I been to such and such a place and... Not that I’m bitter or anything. Some people thrive on conversation and interaction. Social butterflies. Good for them. I’m more like a box turtle.

I do recognize the importance of conversation. It is a method to build a knowledge base, a foundation of understanding about another person, upon which a relationship can be built. So I am doing my best to make use of the plentiful opportunities I have to carry on ‘small talk’ with people. Even if it is inane and pointless in one way, perhaps in another it is not. At least we are making a small attempt at demonstrating interest, and therefore love. I just wish there weren’t so many people around...

I do notice that a lot of the ‘good talkers’ often talk prolifically on one subject- themselves. I was listening to a guy the other day. If I’d have gone and done the same thing he did, my version of it would have lasted 30 seconds, maybe a minute. He went on for over fifteen minutes! Somehow he managed to make it entertaining. I’m not a good oral storyteller. If I were one I hope I wouldn’t always feature myself as the main character. But hey, people like him let people like me sit quietly in a corner without feeling the pressure of coming up with something to say, so maybe it all evens out.