Vacations are over and Carole, as a teacher, will go back to work tomorrow. Always and adjustment. We’re still living with a little fear inspired by very minor vandalism inspired by our very big Hillary sign. I always try to take these things as a lesson to be more compassionate toward people who have real problems, and to do something to help them.
We went to a church gathering yesterday and took a quiz about our spiritual gifts. My top gift was MERCY. Hm. That was followed by writing and administration, then exhortation and service. I can say that all these gifts have been given to me by sobriety and AA. And, AA style, I looked immediately to where I scored the lowest and these would be music-vocal (not much I can do about that), then hospitality. The people at the gathering said I am hospitable enough to their eyes but there are people I’ve known for many years. I question how much I should push myself and how much is my inborn personality that will not be altered. I NEVER enjoy meeting new people. I know my objective is to not let them know this, to not make others uncomfortable because I’m uncomfortable. How much should I seek to meet new people?
At meetings, of course, this is my context. I being greeted by an uncomfortable but trying to hide it me better than not being greeted by me? Can I let the extroverts socialize until over time people become familiar to me? What is best for the blessed newcomer?