Suzanne Carillo

3 Brilliant Conversation Starting Questions

Quite a few bloggers come across as extraverts online however they are introverts and socially shy in real life. 

I was painfully shy until I was about ten years old.

I remember panicking in elementary school when we would go up and down the rows sharing our answers with the class by reading them out loud. I would calculate how many more people I had in front of me before it would be my time to speak.  As my turn approached a spinning ball of terror would begin churning in my stomach. Wishfully glancing at the clock

It never happened.  

I was dizzy with anxiety when my turn arrived.  My throat was sand dry and when I tried to speak, all that would tumble out was a timid squeak. 

Speak up Suzanne!” Mr. Neddlecove would say.

The red heat would shoot up from my chest, washing over my face, racing upwards until I could feel the follicles on the very top of my scalp prickling and burning with fear.  My face would have been deep scarlet by now and I would be shaking uncontrollably.  I was scared to open my mouth again, worried that the turmoil in my stomach would violently push upwards and explode Pop-Tart all over the back of boy’s head sitting in front of me. 

That was grade three.

Yikes. I’m glad I made it through that nightmare. Don’t even get me started on gym class. Years of therapy will never heal that mess.

I would not consider myself an introvert now but social events or parties can sometimes still rattle me and make me feel like I’m a kid back in Mr. Neddlecove’s class.

Attending events solo makes me feel awkward and ridiculous. It’s clear that I don’t belong and it’s obvious that everyone else already knows this.  I think they call this “imposter syndrome”. 

I haven’t mastered the art of casually walking up to someone to start a conversation.  

I can’t be the only one that despises the obvious, “What do you do for a living?” opener. 

I often lead by introducing myself and then asking their name. The typical, “How do you know so-and-so?” is my go-to but that dies out pretty quickly.   Then I’m left wondering how to gracefully move away from the person without making them feel like they’re dead boring and I’d rather be home binging Netflix and cuddling my pug.

Here are 3 great conversation starting questions that I want to try out at my next social event. 

What’s the most important thing I should know about you? 

What do you do for fun? 

What’s the best thing that happened to you this year?

What’s the most important thing I’d like to share about me?

I’m an artistic and creative person, an environmentalist and animal lover with a passion for vintage and used clothing.  

What’s the most important thing I should know about you?

Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday, and Spy Girl

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