My work desk at home looks out a window into our neighborhood. A new family recently moved in across the street, and today, their son (who I’d guess is about eight years old) was playing in their front yard when a kid of similar age from across the way just walked right up to him and said,
Hi! I’m Steven. Wanna play?
No shyness. No hesitation. No awkwardness—just a totally genuine and enthusiastic introduction to another person.
The ability to confidently and comfortably approach a new person and introduce yourself is one of the most valuable life skills you can (re)learn. Whether you want to chat with a college rep, inquire about a job opening, or just make a new friend, take a lesson from kids. They don’t worry that it will be awkward or that they won’t know what to say. And you probably didn’t when you were their age, either.
This is one skill worth rediscovering from your childhood.