It’s ironic that something that’s supposed to make moments feel less awkward makes me feel more awkward. That something is small talk.
The weather.
Empty, “How are you?” questions with,
“I’m good,” answers.
These are the ebbs and flows of conversation that is somewhat meaningless. Conversation that allows us to slip past intentionality into apathetic thought. We make eye contact, nod along and show our respect in the physical, while our minds run elsewhere and our phones vibrate in our pocket.
Many factor keep us from real talk. Fear, time and trust are among them. But maybe the biggest culprit is habit. Small talk is what we do. We do it with our family, our friends and everyone we encounter in our daily routines. We rarely let anyone in and rarely does anyone return the favor. We are caught up in casualness.
It pains me to know I am unintentional, even with those closest to me. That I’d rather not think to give a valuable answer that reveals my true self or that I’d rather not ask a meaningful question to know someone better. Today’s goal is to change that narrative. One conversation at a time.
-Cliff
Cliff’s Note: Don’t settle for small talk; Use it as a road to real talk.