Small Talk

I got a haircut today. On the drive to it, I was already dreading the small talk that always goes on during a haircut. I've gotten my hair cut at many places through the years. But one thing always seems to be a constant: small talk. I can never remember leaving a haircut and thinking to myself, "What a great conversation I just had."

Small talk, especially during hair cuts, always seems to be forced and awkward, for me at least. I've never been a big fan of small talk. Sure, I've learned how to do it, in all sorts of different places. And I think I probably do a pretty decent job of doing it. But it always feels a bit awkward, at best.

Some of the best hair cuts I have ever had had the smallest amount of conversation, particularly with people that I do not know. We both sensed that the purpose was the hair cut, exchanged a few pleasantries, but then enjoyed a few minutes of silence, that was neither forced nor awkward.

After leaving my hair cut today, I, of course, reflected on the conversation. I began to feel a little bad, maybe beating myself up a little, that I don't enjoy small talk, something that is inevitable in today's world. But then it hit me--that's just who I am. There's no need to beat ourselves up over things that we don't do well, or don't enjoy doing, particularly things we wish we were better at or wish we enjoyed. Identifying what we do well, don't do well, enjoy, don't enjoy is one thing. But to wish we were somebody we are not . . . that's not good.

So I will go on doing small talk because that's part of life. But that doesn't mean I have to be the world's best at it, or even be a fan of it . . . because that's just who I am.