The Art of Conversation: Learning to be quiet!

I love Real Simple magazine...I download it on my iPad and read the issues over and over.

Quietly working through the morning!

That is where I found out that people just want me to be quiet when we are at a social function. Can you imagine? It turns out when someone breaks into the middle of my long winded story with "Excuse me, I need to take a look at the pot roast." what they are really saying is please make her stop talking or shoot me now! Who knew!

The truth is, a conversation is an exchange of ideas between by two or more people. If only one person is talking, that is a lecture and not something people want at a social gathering. I think I knew that before.

In a blog post I wrote earlier in the year I talked about conversation starters.  I was so full of information on that day I didn't know what to do with myself. Not today...today I am going to be quiet.  Real Simple said it all. They have even come up with two words that will get you out of a dreadful conversation gracefully.  Simply begin the sentence with "I need.....".  For example, "I need to check on the pot roast." is the perfect exit line even if you are not the cook. When you know this tip, you can escape from me. On the other hand, if you are on the receiving end of the "I need....", you will know you are boring someone to death. Either way, it is all good.

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Thank you Real Simple for 10 Rules of Small Talk by Jennifer Tung. Everyone is very grateful for the information.  :)
Link: Etiquette Advice on modern manners.