I learned something very interesting this weekend that I'd like to share with you, dear readers. It's not something life-altering or mind-blowing or anything like that. Or maybe it is and I just haven't noticed yet that my life is altered and my mind blown. Those seem to be big-ish things and you'd think I'd notice, but sometimes it just takes a little while for things to sink in with me.
So I learned something. Um...Hmmm...Gee. I hope I didn't already forget it. That can and does happen, of course. (See the purple spinning widget in my right sidebar.)
Oh, yeah!
What I learned is this: Sometimes someone you meet seems super poised and intelligent and together, like their IQ tops the Smart Charts or something. And they look like they just stepped out of some magazine not found in beauty shops 'cause beauty shops usually just have People and Redbook.
No, these types of folks look like someone peeled them off the pages of Scientific American, which you never see in a beauty shop or even a beauty salon. They don't seem the least bit goofy or like they'd ever have to call their cell phones several times in a single day just to keep up with it. And they sort of look down their noses like you remind them of someone they once paid to scrape gum off their shoes or something.
So you meet someone all intimidating like that and you're thinking, "I hope I don't say something dumb here. I wish I read Scientific American. Ever. Or even my son's' copy of National Geographic Kids. The newspaper? Something besides cereal boxes, anyway."
And right when you're sure you're setting yourself up for a Southwest Airlines need-to-get-away moment, they open their mouths and they speak. And you realize they're just like you. I know, right?
First impressions can be misleading.
That's what I learned.
The only time I can remember being intimidated to meet someone was when I worked at Blue Cross and had to plan the Christmas party (or something) for the whole company. I had to meet the freaking CEO to discuss the menu with him.
I was nervous as heck! But he was cool. :-)
If I may say so, I think our approach to meeting new people is based on our opinions of ourselves. I think I'm awesome, so I naturally assume that everyone I meet will agree. As far as I know, they do. (LOL)
Everybody farts, even the ones who say they don't. Everyone poops. Everyone has some insecurity and EVERYONE has said or done something stoopid in their lives. I don't care what they look like.
Don't project your own insecurities on imperfect strangers.
Posted by: Angelika | May 26, 2009 at 11:34 AM
It is like Sarah Boyle. I totally rejudged her based on her looks. I thought that surely I was better than she in all forms. I was a complete selfcentered acting idiot. Then, after about 2 seconds of listening to her voice, I knew how wrong I was for judging her. It was wrong of me and that experience has left me thinking twice before drawing conclusions about strangers.
Posted by: Screwed Up Texan | May 26, 2009 at 11:50 AM
The king is a big man, but he still can't eat his cookies with a shovel.
That, my friend, is an old Hungarian proverb my daddy shared with me when I was a little girl. I like it better than "Everybody poops..."
Posted by: Helen | May 26, 2009 at 02:40 PM
We can't force our first impressions to be correct, all we can do is hang around long enough to get a real impression of someone.
I am intimidated by very few people... not the smart, gorgeous, or rich and powerful.
I would be intimidated by the likes of Mother Teresa. Or Corrie Ten Boom. People who seemingly had mastered the art of self denial which I am so far from achieving.
Posted by: sherri | May 26, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Sherri, and Cookie Monster...for being able to eat cookies with a shovel...
Posted by: Helen | May 26, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Ain't that the truth! But do you ever wonder if YOU are the person that comes across as the Scientific American reader who turns out to be an idiot? I know some folks get that impression of me, although, not so much anymore, since I generally have toddler snot smeared somewhere on my clothing. I look a whole lot less Scientific American these days!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 07, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Isn't that funny how that works! It's almost like a lack of self-confidence telling you that you aren't equally as pretty or smart or ____insert word_____. In reality, I'm sure that half the time we can be the ones who are intimidating. The amazing mothers, the devout Christians, etc. etc. I think it's hard for anyone to see the way they are actually viewed by the world. :)
Posted by: Emily Barlean | June 17, 2009 at 12:47 PM