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A moment of uncharacteristic shyness
Apr. 16th, 2007 07:31 pmWell, not really a moment. More of a semester-long hangup.
For my big history group project on the New Deal, I'm supposed to either research an initiative that affected the Kansas City area or interview someone who was born before 1931. It seems like a no-brainer: I like talking to people, I'm editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, and I live right next to a friendly elderly couple. But the project is due Friday, and until today, I hadn't done a single thing.
It took me three months to work up the courage to call them. I couldn't even walk next door and ask for an interview. What on earth? Is this really me? You all know me- I'm hardly a timid person. It might have had something to do with having to ask about their age, and it might have had something to do with Henry getting mad at my mom for not helping shovel the snow that one time last fall, but things like that don't usually bug me. Certainly not enough for me to let it hold up my project for three months.
I just called, and Henry cheerfully informed me that he was born in 1928 and would be happy to help me however he could. It was incredibly easy, and my life would be a hell of a lot simpler this week had I done it when we first got the assignment on the first day of class.
The lesson: if the only risk is a snub, just do it. What's the point in letting nerves win out when the worst they can say is "no"?
For my big history group project on the New Deal, I'm supposed to either research an initiative that affected the Kansas City area or interview someone who was born before 1931. It seems like a no-brainer: I like talking to people, I'm editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, and I live right next to a friendly elderly couple. But the project is due Friday, and until today, I hadn't done a single thing.
It took me three months to work up the courage to call them. I couldn't even walk next door and ask for an interview. What on earth? Is this really me? You all know me- I'm hardly a timid person. It might have had something to do with having to ask about their age, and it might have had something to do with Henry getting mad at my mom for not helping shovel the snow that one time last fall, but things like that don't usually bug me. Certainly not enough for me to let it hold up my project for three months.
I just called, and Henry cheerfully informed me that he was born in 1928 and would be happy to help me however he could. It was incredibly easy, and my life would be a hell of a lot simpler this week had I done it when we first got the assignment on the first day of class.
The lesson: if the only risk is a snub, just do it. What's the point in letting nerves win out when the worst they can say is "no"?
