Hi, My name is...

I was recently reading a children's book about courage to Lena, and found the line "Courage is being the new kid in town and walking right up to someone and saying flat out 'Hi, my name is Wayne, what's yours?"

I immediately flashed to my first day of third grade. A new school in a new town, I hadn't met anyone from my school yet because we were bused to the french school across town. I was so nervous in the days leading up- an awkward freckly thing with big glasses and a mushroom cut. "How will I make friends?"

"Just pick a person, smile and say 'Hi, my name is Nicole, what's yours?", my mom advised. It sounded crazy, but maybe it would work.

I can so distinctly remember the feeling as recess approached. All the other kids seemed to know one another, and so I picked a small girl who had a friendly face and also sat in the front row. When the bell rang, I took a deep breath and flung myself in her direction before she had a chance to run over to someone else. With single minded focus, I blurted out "Himynameisnicole,what'syours?".
I was rewarded for my courage with a bright smile, and a new friend.

I'm so grateful that I had that experience, and that lesson is one I have carried with me for-by golly, twenty years. Each move to a new city is so much easier for having broken that ice within myself, so that I can break the ice with new people. Some of the people to whom I introduce myself become friends, some do not; but I have never regretted approaching someone, or intentionally making myself approachable to someone who seems to want to connect.

Today I went to a small party for a friend's birthday, and she would be the only one I knew. In the car out front, I started to feel a bit queasy. "Will they like me? Will I make an idiot of myself?". And then I remembered. Just smile, and say "Hi, my name is nicole, what's yours?".



If anyone reads this :)
Your homework is to introduce yourself to a stranger this week. Admit it, we all feel drawn to certain people, why not follow your instinct?