A good first impression goes a long way, but when is shaking hands and handing out hugs too much?
“Pepe, dear?”
Mum always had the worst nicknames for me.
“You need to meet more people. When I was your age I used to have many young suitors hanging off my arm. “
Appalled, I turned to her. “You mean you want me to be promiscuous?”
“Well, not precisely, but you deserve a nice young man.”
“They aren’t smart enough for me, Mum.”
“But they do make such great eye candy.”
“Mother!”
Although Mum made an excellent point –men ‘can’ make great eye candy– I have to wonder to what extent of meeting new people should one go; especially those of us that are unknown. A hug to one person could differ from one to another and in turn create an unwanted situation or a really embarrassing scene. Although most are fairly friendly and interact a little enough to create a relationship basis, some may not want that random attention and will actually give you the Evil Eye.
Now, I have been living with Mum for a great many years, Papa left when I was very young, and an evil eye often resulted from doing something I was not allowed to do. –Mum was always far more social so I certainly didn’t learn propriety from her!– To receive an evil eye because I said hi and offered to shake someone’s hand was a reaction I had never expected, (Alright, perhaps I was a little more enthusiastic and outgoing than the average doe), but was it really necessary?
I then realized that the world wasn’t full of happy fluffy people. There are people out there just wanting to get ahead in life and if you are not far enough up the food chain then you don’t exist. It is a harsh reality but I suppose that’s Show Biz for you.
So when your interactions with fellow mates (Also known as friends or people. It is a term I picked up here in Aussie-land) grow short on the response bar, either message them or let them move on. After all, you are worth time and if they aren’t interested don’t force the issue. I mean, they’re the ones missing out.
Published in Issue 222 of the Amsterdam Edition.
