Dialogue 500 Entry - Confidence

Okay, walk up and say hello.  You can do this.  You just need to find the confidence and get to it.  It's not that difficult.  People do this all the time.

Deep breaths, take deep breaths.

Now, see that opening?  Go for it.  Talk to him.  Say hello.  At the very least you'll have done that and then you won't feel so bad about coming here and accomplishing nothing.  You came here for a reason – to meet people.  You can't do that standing in the back of the room with your back against the wall. 

Okay, here goes.  Remember to breathe.  Oh, yeah, and don't yell out hello like you did last week at that poor guy.  He was really not expecting that!  Wow, how embarrassing, maybe it would be better to stand here a minute longer.  Gather your thoughts, relax a bit.

Maybe try out a few lines.  That's it.  All I need to do is practice what I'm going to say and it will sound completely natural.  I won't be nervous if I know what I'm going to say.

So here goes – Hi there.  Nice turnout tonight isn't it?

No, all wrong.  How about – Hello.  My name is Clara and you are?

Good but then do I hold my hand out too?!  Too complicated.  Something simpler.

Maybe – Hi.  Nice weather we're having.

God no!  Who asks about the weather?  Well, I do.  I like the weather.  You should always be prepared...oh, you have to stop this and go up there and talk to someone, anyone.  You don't want to go home once more without having said a word to anyone.  Everyone here is nervous and they're all here to meet people too.  All in the same boat remember.

Just go.  It's like ripping off a band-aid, do it quick, fast, and get down to the nitty gritty.  Just zero in on one person and go for it.  There now, at the bar, now!  Go now!  But walk don't run.  Breathe.

“Hi.” Remember to smile.

“Hello.”

“Vodka tonic, please.”  Continue to smile!  Look casual.  Stop playing with the napkin for god's sake.

“Make that two.  So, you come here often?”

Giggle a bit.  “Well, sort of.  And you?”  See, not as hard as you thought.  And he's laughing too!

“You know, I come here pretty often and most nights I stand in the back of the room trying to build up enough confidence to talk to someone before going home.  Odd huh?  Bet you don't have that problem?”

Oh my god!  Can you say soul mate?  “Actually, you'd be surprised.”

“There's an empty table over there.  You want to have a seat?  Talk a little?”

“I'd like that.”  See, you do make things more difficult than they need to be.  Okay, okay, time for outside conversation.


Word count - 467