A cashier's comment fixed my awkward small talk

I used to force conversations with neighbors and coworkers, filling every silence with chatter. An older woman at the grocery store told me 'you don't have to talk just because there's a pause,' and I realized I was treating quiet like a problem. Anyone else get told something similar that actually rewired how they act?

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danielnelson1mo ago

and that's exactly what happened to my buddy Marcus. He used to dominate every hangout with nervous talking until his dentist told him to just breathe during the exam. Now he says half the time he just nods and lets people finish their thought, and it's wild because everyone thinks he's a great listener now. He told me the dentist's words hit him like a brick, because he never realized silence wasn't a failure. Now he even drives with the radio off sometimes just to practice being quiet. It's funny how one random comment can flip a switch in your brain like that.