New

In the past few months, it's become pretty obvious that I need to be more social.  I need to meet new people.  I need to interact with more grown ups.  Really, I need to be more open to the possibilities that await outside my front door.

The problem with this?  I don't like people.  Or, I don't like large groups of people.  Or I don't like new people. 

No, I don't like me around new people.  I don't like those first few interactions with people I've just met.  I don't like the awkwardness of new.

Unfortunately, meeting new people is the name of the game lately.  In the past couple of months, I've been forced to step out of my comfort zone and speak to complete strangers.  I have been advised, by people who want to see me get happy, that I have to open myself up to the new.  And, apparently the new isn't just going to show up at my front door drawn in by the smell of fresh baked cupcakes.

So, I've been going out.  And, it's become quite apparent that one needs a wider circle than the people one meets at the bar.  Very, very apparent.

My solution?  I joined a gym.  Thanks to a generous family member, I now get to work out in a really nice gym a few times a week.

The problem?  There are people at the gym.  Lots of people.

Prior to this new endeavor, I have always worked out alone.  I mostly run.  Because running can be done alone, with an I-Pod, early in the morning, with limited witnesses.  Have I mentioned how much I prefer to be alone when exercising?

Of course, there are the random creepers who seem to have missed the Leave Me Alone Memo.

Thanks, buddy, but I don't need a spotter.  And, the fourth time you pass by me in your car qualifies you as a stalker.  So, unless you're going to get out and hand me a cup of water, keep driving.

And, yes, sir.  You've caught on to the secret of wooing a woman.  Because every woman is totally turned on by the guy driving by, hanging out his window, shouting "encouragement" as she's running.  What a gentleman you are.

To my surprise, on my very first trip to the gym, I met three new people.  And, apparently they didn't notice when I cringed the moment they stepped onto the machines next to mine.  Or they didn't care.  Either way, they were nice and didn't seem to notice that I was interviewing them for pool boy jobs.

We'll see how this whole "Be a grown up and talk to people... they aren't going to bite" thing goes.  If it doesn't work out, I'll just go back to opening the windows and hoping strangers will be drawn to the sweet smell of new mixed with the warm cookies.