July 2026 Archive

July Jubilations! 

July 1st always seemed to me like the true beginning of summer. And often we get more social as the weather warms up.

Anxiety in social situations is pretty normal. The debilitating paradox that everyone is staring at you, yet simultaneously you feel invisible, can tempt the shy person to never leave the house. It’s horrible to be in a crowd of happily chattering people and not know who to talk to or what to talk about.

But I’ve found a solution to that. Arrive early at events. Be there before the crowd. Make it your job to greet people as they arrive. They don’t know that you don’t know anyone. For all they know, you may be the organizer. Often the folks who are arriving are feeling just as insecure. By focusing on making others feel welcome, you’re distracting yourself from your own inner voices. Along the way, you’ve met everyone at the party. Because you made them feel welcome, the ice is broken.

Arrive early at events. Make it a habit to be useful. These are subtle superpowers that can change your life and plant the seeds of friendship.