Hope Boulevard by J. Hope Suis

As a society, we put labels on everything. Some are necessary.    I need to know the expiration date on the cheese that has been in the bottom drawer of my refrigerator for two months (I mean weeks).     Some are frivolous. Yes, I know taking a bath with my space heater is not a good idea.  But sometimes I think we have gone overboard with the labels. Especially the ones attached to humans. Rarely are they correct and more importantly, even if they do fit SOME of the time, all of us have so many layers that go into making us who we are.    Here are a few of MY non-labels!   Labe l  me an  i ntrovert BUT I’m not anti - social Well, maybe I am a little, but only if I’m annoyed or very tired. I love talking to people. I especially love hearing their stories; the good ones and the sad ones. I am honored when someone trusts me enough to share their journey with me. I may not be the life of the party, but I’ve made peace with that.    Label m

I'm really writing this for me, but I thought I would bring you along for the ride.  Whether you are on a first date, a business meeting, a social setting or just a ridiculously long line, knowing the art of small talk is a life-saver.  I am notoriously bad at it; seriously. I have been known to walk the long way around the parking lot to avoid having to having to walk in with someone and feel obligated to share chit-chat. I know, it's so sad.  However, instead of continuing to wallow in my defeat, I decided to find better ways to handle this and I am going to share them with you.  Sometimes it's not just knowing what to say, but how to say it. Everyone has a different communication style, and when small talk is challenging it helps to have some tips in your conversation arsenal.  Pretend You Are Interested I know the 'fake it 'til you make it' advice sounds lame, but it just might work. People are drawn to enthusiasm. Keep a go-to qu