Wednesday 15 May 2013

diary of a twenty something freckle faced lady woman.


I once wrote an article on being an introvert and loving my introvert ways but almost a year later I think, somehow, I have edged more into the extrovert bracket and I'm not quite sure I like it.

If I were on a TV reality show I would be sitting with a green screen behind me probably with a city backdrop. I would be heavily made up because TV isn't realistic  and hell maybe even offered an FHM contract (sorry if you were eating, awkward). Growing up I was always surrounded by friends; I knew people. I wasn't disliked as such but I wasn't popular because I was a bit odd, still am a bit odd, so found majority of my high school years reserved, in my shell and with the same handful of friends. It wasn't until I hit eighteen and I met people who were equally quirky but instead of hiding it, embraced it. But how far can you go?

Taking a step back I realise I can often be annoying, a little irritating and yes, a little too full on or maybe this is all in my head and I actually am still quite a quiet kid. As I've matured I've become more acceptable with who I am or so I thought. I've become a lot more sociable as the years have gone on and due to this gain have gained a little confidence and without knowing I have become a tiny bit more of an extrovert. Less stay at home and more out every other night making new friends and talking to strangers about the state of the country.

I like the person I am and I like my quirks I just need to learn how to drop them in slowly when around new people. I don't try and be somebody I'm not but like majority of society, feel misunderstood (insert Coldplay). I am weird but get to know what's underneath the weirdness. There's a hell of alot beneath the weirdness. It's the approach I have to life. No matter if a person is a different colour, disabled or from a different social background, we are all in this together. I am usually the person talking to the drunk weirdo on the bus everybody else avoids, but in all fairness which one of us is the weird one is arguable.

Basically to conclude this rambling, I like Rebecca Helen George I just wish she'd know when to shut up and when not to say things and how to act in public.

Wednesday 1 May 2013

How nice are you?

I like to think of Britain as the nerdy skinny cousin of the World. Nobody really takes it seriously until it becomes hellbent of revenge and kicks ass. We've done it twice before, so stop laughing at us. We're a laid-back Nation and will laugh at ourselves but we are proud and defiant that we can be better than our current state and will do all we can to do so.

I do have a point, don't worry. After reading Danny Wallace's latest piece in Shortlist magazine I began to wonder, how nice is too nice? His piece is about the over-thanking of a customer to a waiter and I flipped it on it's head. I am forever thanking customers for absolutely no reason at all other than being polite. Serving their drinks, 'One coke and a Peroni, thank you', serving their food 'Hi guys, two chicken salads, thank you' It doesn't make any sense. Say I have a customer talking to me about their life I am genuinely interested but when I have my manager staring at me sternly from the other side of the room with food to be ran and drinks to be served I find it awkward to stop them mid-sentence to run off.

I've done it in the past when I've bumped into bins and tables. 'Oops sorry' and when I've left MY phone on the bus and somebody has called me back and passed it to me 'Oh, sorry' like it's a bother to them if I don't have my phone.

I like to think I'm a nice person, but sometimes nice is irritating. I will compliment someones outfit if they look nice, I will tell somebody if their tag is hanging out their dress or toilet paper is stuck to their shoe but I am also a judgmental person which  if we're all honest are all guilty of it. That inferior gene that brings along it's competitive gene. Usually notice mine when I see people getting the jobs I want. Yes at first I am happy for them, they worked hard and deserve it but then so do I so where's my break? I can do this job just as good as them if not better..I then snap my bitchier interior away from reality and realise I am just being human.

Some people might look down their noses to me because I'm a bit weird but let them. There's nothing wrong with being nice and there's nothing wrong with being too nice. Yes it might feel like you're being false but if it comes across genuine then it's fine. I don't just make conversation with customers because I want a tip but because I enjoy strangers (that didn't sound so creepy in my head). I do, I love meeting new people and finding out about them it's just knowing when to stop. They don't care if you're cat has changed it's cat food and didn't really like it at first but now seems to be enjoying it and by the way I love your socks. I'd rather a reply from 'What are your plans for tonight?' wasn't me and Jim have a room in Jurys Inn and plan to shag until the early hours of the morning. This doesn't have to apply with work-life. Opening doors for people, smiling at strangers, letting an old lady sit down in your sit/on your lap or handing somebody's wallet in. It's the little things that you'd like to think people would do for you. For every one arsehole there's five more sweethearts, remember that.