Revelation!
I realized something last night. I am nothing more than a late bloomer. I'm not underplaying that, I'm just realizing it's not a bad thing. It just is. There isn't anything wrong with me. I'm not a social troglodyte, I'm not broken, and there isn't anything that made me socially unacceptable except my own paranoia.
It started about a month ago when I met this kid at work, Will. He came up to me and started laughing at the sweatshirt I was wearing (a black hoodie with Stewie from "Family Guy" on the front). He just kept talking. At first, I thought he was mildly annoying. Not that he was rude, but in my normal "go away and let me be" sense. But, lo and behold, he kept at it, I interacted, and we got along. Long story short, we became friends. I went out with him one night, and my social life - and confidence - have skyrocketed.
The first night out, I landed a number. Mind you, that's my first time out of my house while not going to a friends house. Every other time, because of how his personality is, he talks to almost everyone we come across. Before, I would have looked at this as a bad thing: I REALLY had to redefine my comfort zone. Now, I know it for the good thing it is: I REALLY redefined my comfort zone. Now, even when he's not around, I not only respond if someone says something to me (versus the previous "look down and keep walking" mentality), but I'll often engage the conversation on my own.
Last night, I went out to The Olive Garden for his birthday party. It was he, I and about 10 other people. The cool part? I - yes, ME - was the star. I didn't steal Will's thunder, but I was cracking the jokes, making the toast, and keeping things light.
Now, the final part of my "coming out of my shell" is to get the gaul to ask a girl out. And the way things are going, it's not going to be long.
It started about a month ago when I met this kid at work, Will. He came up to me and started laughing at the sweatshirt I was wearing (a black hoodie with Stewie from "Family Guy" on the front). He just kept talking. At first, I thought he was mildly annoying. Not that he was rude, but in my normal "go away and let me be" sense. But, lo and behold, he kept at it, I interacted, and we got along. Long story short, we became friends. I went out with him one night, and my social life - and confidence - have skyrocketed.
The first night out, I landed a number. Mind you, that's my first time out of my house while not going to a friends house. Every other time, because of how his personality is, he talks to almost everyone we come across. Before, I would have looked at this as a bad thing: I REALLY had to redefine my comfort zone. Now, I know it for the good thing it is: I REALLY redefined my comfort zone. Now, even when he's not around, I not only respond if someone says something to me (versus the previous "look down and keep walking" mentality), but I'll often engage the conversation on my own.
Last night, I went out to The Olive Garden for his birthday party. It was he, I and about 10 other people. The cool part? I - yes, ME - was the star. I didn't steal Will's thunder, but I was cracking the jokes, making the toast, and keeping things light.
Now, the final part of my "coming out of my shell" is to get the gaul to ask a girl out. And the way things are going, it's not going to be long.