The Wise And The Glib.

I talk, a lot. I make my mark on this planet by always having something to say. In certain settings I know when to shut it, but otherwise a day rarely passes where I am not hoarse by the end of it from chatting away.

When I think about my role amongst my friends, both past and present I have always been a joker. Making someone laugh is a huge tension-easer, and really helps to get people comfortable with you. Going all the way back to grade school, when I was only seven or eight years old I was already working on making people laugh. I recall one time where I was at a potluck dinner with a huge audience at a nearby arena. I don't remember what the occasion was, but I do remember the microphone. They asked if anyone had anything to add to the - whatever the issue was - and I took this as an opportunity to act. I walked up, probably nine years old if I was a day and grabbed the microphone and told this joke; what's black, white and red all over. A newspaper. It got a few chuckles, but I was thrilled with myself. I was fearless when it came to public speaking ever since.

I was never a strong kid, or a big one. I learned to get out of situations with bullies by talking myself out of them. It didn't always work, but it's what I knew. I had never been beaten up as a child from the other kids, and I think my fast mouth and faster brain was to thank for that. As I progressed through school, I often found myself involved with activities on stage or in front of audiences. It felt really good to have all eyes on me, listening intently to what I had to say.

When I entered into high school, I heard they had a drama program. It wasn't available to me in grade 9, so until then I had to take a different art class (although technically the drama class was run by the English department). I chose both art and music, as I really couldn't decide which I wanted to do more. Fairly quickly I learned that I was a not a musician and never really will be. Art, however I can do. When grade 10 finally came I threw myself into drama, full bore. I joined the production being run "The Face Is The Place", and as I had no interest in being on stage, I got to run the lights.

Now I bet you're thinking, "Didn't you say you liked audiences?" Indeed I do, and with drama class and running the lights I had a different kind of audience. With class I became known for my skill with the monologues I performed, as well as my advanced understanding of Shakespeare's works. Elizabethan never felt like a different language, but instead a different way of arranging the English language to achieve a more poetic sentence. I wrote my very first monologue to be performed in front of the class, and I had people asking me to repeat it again afterwards. With the lighting for my first production I was part of, my audience was the cast members and the crew. Working with them to get the show together allowed me plenty of opportunities to hold court and explain my ideas.

I continued through drama class for the remainder of my time at Waterloo-Oxford, evening working alongside my dad and the English head at the school to create a separate course called "Director's Craft". It was a course offered at my dad's school, but not at ours. We slotted it into the grade 12 drama class (I was in grade 13, or OAC is it was called) and I just attended class with them. It was heaven, I got to redo grade 12 drama, but when situations arose where a director was required for a situation, the teacher would delegate to me, and the class was mine.

Even with the job's I've had in the past, I've always been in a management position. It's not really a power hungry situation, as anyone who's worked beneath me can attest I was not a tyrant. I just enjoyed people asking me for directions and for help with their job. It made me feel important and needed which I think anyone can say they enjoy.

Now that I've returned to work I have noticed one big difference in my behaviour in work situations. While I once would jump at the option to chat it up with the staff during a slow moment, I find myself more likely to invent work for myself or ask my manager. I don't really find a lot of what they're talking about to be that relevant. It always seems to be about the same stuff; relationships, issues at home, "girl stuff". Things I could hardly care less about. Once upon a time I would feign enthusiasm to maintain a report with them. Now I'm more interested in just walking by and listening to what they have to say.

This doesn't mean I've stopped my love of talking, or for being an entertainer. I think the group I hang out with on Sundays would agree that I'm always likely to add my two cents to any topic being commented on. The skill comes in knowing what to say, when to say it and how to say it. It's a skill to be an accomplished conversationalist, not everyone can do it. If someone makes a comment that clearly indicates they've got a direction they'd like to take the conversation, if it's okay then let it slide and the conversation will evolve naturally. If someone insists upon turning the conversation toward themselves, then that needs to be stopped. I try not to do this, as I find it in incredibly bad taste, as well as being awkward. If someone initiates a conversation and wants to talk about their recently deceased relative, then the appropriate thing to do would be to listen, saying nothing. Don't mention the fact that your relative passed away recently too, I don't think that's what they're reaching out for. They're not looking for vindication in the knowledge that people die, nor are they looking for someone they can relate to. They're expressing an emotion, a sentiment. Those sorts of things need to just be stated and left, really.

There's a lot more I could go on about, I really think that a lot of people could use a lesson in conversational etiquette.