Have a Laugh!
The Secret to Great Conversations?
ASK, LISTEN, AND DITCH THE FEAR
For many Americans, there is nothing more intimidating and nerve-wracking than starting up a conversation with someone you don’t know. They worry that people will look at them like they’re weird or respond aggressively. However, this is a very unnecessary concern. Most people are open to conversing with strangers and sharing in some small talk. By pushing past your fear and finding your confidence, you could make new friends and open yourself up to new experiences. As plenty of introverts would tell you, simply overcoming the initial fear or nervousness won’t always be enough to have a full-on conversation with someone you don’t know. After initial pleasantries, the conversation can fall into a solemn silence, as neither person knows where to take the conversation next. This can lead to awkward situations if you’re trying to take advantage of National No One Eats Alone Day. Thankfully, the only thing you need to push past the barriers is some tried-and-true conversation starters. One of the best ways to start up a conversation is to ask someone a question about themselves. It can be as simple as complimenting their outfit and asking where they got it from. Then, you can ask follow-up questions based on their responses. Most people love to talk about themselves and rarely get a chance to do so. By asking questions about their jobs, hometown, family, interests, and hobbies, you can find ways to connect with someone and establish a relationship. Not everyone is open to talking about themselves with strangers, though. If you feel like you’re speaking with a brick wall, it may be time to change your strategy. Ask about their thoughts on the future or past events. The goal is to find some common ground. Once they mention something that you can relate to, jump on it and carry on the conversation. It doesn’t matter if it’s about your favorite sports team, local news events, or something that’s affecting the world as a whole; when you find ways to connect, you increase your chances of making a real connection.
Ingredients •
12 oz package vanilla wafers
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16 oz cream cheese, softened
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3/4 cup white sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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21 oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Don’t let shyness or nerves prevent you from starting a conversation with someone. You may just meet your next best friend this way!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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