Admit it, you were nervous your first time. You didn’t know what to say, or how to act. You wondered if you were making the right decision or if you were going to regret it. But once you finally got it over with, you felt pretty silly for making such a big deal about it. And you did it over, and over and over again!
Get your minds out of the gutter, I’m talking about making phone calls!
Remember when you used to actually talk to your friends, live in real time? Not “talk” as in “read their words on a computer screen or text message.” You had to pick up the phone, dial the number, and actually ask for them, then hold a conversation. Nowadays the idea seems almost quaint. One of my best friends from childhood and I rarely speak on the phone, but I know more about what’s going on with her than I do about some of my other friends… thanks to the wonder of email.
I respond faster to emails than I do phone messages and spend most of my day staring at the computer/working, so my local friends know that’s the best way to reach me quickly.
But I have to admit losing my phone virginity to friends really makes me nervous. Losing it to strangers is even worse! I get really nervous when I pick up the phone. So much so that I sometimes have to outline what I’m going to say, so I don’t forget the main point of my call. I know I have issues... don't we all?
I have some friends in real life whom I’ve NEVER spoken with on the phone. Isn’t that weird? But I love receiving phone calls, especially when they are unexpected. I’m going to try harder with this in the coming months… making more of an effort to reach out to my friends on the phone. Especially friends who live far, far away. So next time your screening calls and you see one coming from the 414 area code, pick up! It might just be me!
14 comments:
I am not one to talk on the phone...and my friends know to reach me via email. And my best friend keeps laughing about me blogging because she knows more about my life than she ever did - even when we would talk on the phone for hours.
And I admit to being nervous about talking to blog friends on the phone. At least the first time. And it's fun to have voices to put with the words I read.
I miss talking on the phone. Though I am the first to admit that I am terrible about it. It's like riding a bike; you have to get back in the habit.
I have friends that are terrible emailers, so I have to make the effort to call.
Loved your post.
As I said to you at book club, I am glad we are past MY phone phobia...It is all about the first time, isn't it?
Oh I totally get this! But from the face-to-face perspective: The other day we were at the University Bookstore and this guy walked by my husband and I, stopped, turned around, and said to my husband and I, "Michael and Katie Ritchie! from Ritch in Love!" I froze! And then quickly relaxed when I realized who it was. It was a friend of mine that I had gone to elementary school with. K-6. In our school we never changed classmates. We had the same class mates our entire elementary career. This guy I knew really well! And recently he found me on facebook and we have started reading each other's blog. It is fun to be able to say funny things about pictures on each other's blogs, but then when you actually have to INTERACT with one another you don't know how! (I was freaked out when he associated us with our blog though! I immediately thought: I am going private! But, have since decided against it. :)
My ex was terrified of the phone. He couldn't even order a pizza.
I am the worst about returning phone calls or messages. Luckily I have some great friends who don't take it personally when I don't call them back! LOL!
i love talking on the phone, and i miss it so bad! it's definitely a lost art these days - i must admit that i don't always think to make the call, but i do enjoy receiving them
Here is something for you to try...I thought you would love it...it is a Virtual Mile challenge
http://lifestrides.blogspot.com/2008/08/announcing-1-mile-virtual-race.html
I don't call my friends enough... and I'm not sure why. And I've never talked to another blogger. An interesting thought. I'd feel so naked though...
How funny you made a post about this, I was just having a conversation with myself about this. I use to like the phone, now if I can email or text, I'd rather do that then get on the phone. How do you tell people that without coming off like a technophile? (is that even a word?) I work from home now and my job is being on the phone the whole time I am at work, so it makes sense that I would rather email/text. I've thought about making a better effort to reach out and touch someone...but it's all a bluff. Good luck with trying to get better at it! Maybe if you tell us how it goes I can use it as inspiration! :) Sorry I rambled...
I remember being so freaked out about calling people to remind them of their dental appointment in H.S. It took lots of practice to feel comfortable!
It's funny how those of us who are so comfortable typing can easily lose our comfort in making phone calls. I find it difficult to make phone calls to schedule appointments, so I will put it off until I put it on a to-do list. Then seeing it on paper will make me do it so I can mark it off my list. And when I do make the call, it is always pleasant and never a big deal. So then why do I dread it the next time? Interesting "hang-up" for sure.
I love calling sister back home. but usually send e-mail to friends. sometimes I can better express my feelings thru writing than talking to them.
I don't really care to talk on the phone. I think it's because I'm so cheap (we only have cell phones, and therefore free minutes on the weekends). NO... it's not that, because I hated talking on the phone before our cell phone phase.
Don't sweat it. Just keep doing what you're doing.
ON THE OTHER HAND...I do know what it means to let a rational unrest turn into an irrational fear. I'm so bad at remembering names. I'm always afraid that I'm going to get a name wrong. It's gotten to the point where it's become a phobia though... If that's the way it is with you, then I say, yes, try to break out of that cycle :)
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