Pet Peeve

Probably my biggest pet peeve of all is people who talk about themselves and never ask about you.

OH!

MY!

LANDS!

Its really one of those things that makes me want to implode while talking to them but social graces forbid that I actually do implode. I want to scream "GET OVER YOURSELF!!!!"

Now working with teenagers, I get it. They are self focused and they are speaking with an adult...I get it. Its all about them. Long about the end of junior year they start actually asking how you are doing and its always a lovely transition. Not necessary, but lovely nonetheless because you can see their transition away from themselves all the time.

I know someone who literally all she does is talk about herself. ( and she does not read this blog so if you think its you, you are wrong) Rare is the occasion that she asks about anyone else. Its like she is trying so hard to impress that she constantly talks about how she is and what they are doing and how great they are. She actually told me one day that they had spent so much money on their new house....I mean WHO says that?!?! Her phone messages on answering machines are about what she and her children and her family are doing. Even their Christmas letter (which is actually an okay place for you to talk about what you are doing) is an obnoxious three pages long. I mean, who wants to read that...ugh.

I want to tell her to relax...You dont need to try and impress people by telling them what you are doing and how great you are. Life is not a competition. People's lives are different and Its okay. Stop trying to compete--its hard to compete when you are the only one playing the game. It also smacks of insecurity to constantly be talking about yourself and how great you are and how much money you spend.

I have family members like this too. I have literally sat through meals where they prattle on about themeselves ad nauseum. During one fateful dinner E forbade me to ask questions about them just to see if they would ask about us. It was SOOO awkward because it was literally SILENT for about 15-10 minutes at a stretch. It was an interesting test though...very telling. You see straight up how little people actually care about what is going on in your life.

Believe me when I say Im not perfect... Ive got a huge log in my own eye !!Im entirely self centered too. I remind myself constantly to ask others what is going on with them and how they are. I have to be reminded constantly that its not all about me.

But all that said, it really is one of my pet peeves.