I am just curious wondering if this happens to other people or if I just give off a certain vibe…
Every time I’m walking somewhere or in my town centre or for example the gym or supermarket I get approached by strangers.
I get asked for directions fairly often when people must have GPS on their phone and there are other people around, I went for a walk last week and was stopped twice.
I’m in my town centre today just doing a bit of shopping and so far I’ve had the following:
I stopped to put some shopping in a bag on a bench and a woman in her 80’s has been telling me her life story.
I kept saying I had to go and she kept talking and I felt guilty because she must be lonely so I ended up sat with her for 20 minutes.
I went to a cafe for a drink and sat at an empty table. There were loads of tables free but a woman with her two kids sat next to me and started chatting. She asked if I had children and when I said no her kids asked me over and over why I didn’t until I joked and said I eat children and one started crying which was so awkward,
I’ve been asked directions twice despite town being full of people,
A man asked me where my trainers were from (who knows why?!) and he started asking me loads of questions as well about myself and I kept saying again I had to go but he wouldn’t stop talking until I said I was late for an appointment and now I’m hoping I don’t run into him again.
I’m ND and not very comfortable talking to strangers and when they ask questions I know the polite thing is to ask questions back but I never know what to say or ask.
I often get people sitting next to me on trains or buses with other seats free and I’m not exaggerating when I say this happens all the time. I think it must be unusual but maybe some people will post saying they have similar experiences.
I’m average looking except for being very short (4’9) and I don’t think I come across as that approachable because I’m so shy, I avoid eye contact when I’m out and about.
I’m currently in therapy to work on my self esteem and being a people pleaser and terrified of confrontation so I’ve brought it up before because I end up stuck in conversations I feel guilty ending.
My therapist thinks my height makes me look unthreatening and so people are happy to come and chat and I can understand that for something like directions but not for a man to ask about my children’s size 1 trainers!
I wondered if it happens to anyone else and if anyone has any theories why?
My DP said I must just have “one of those faces” but I don’t know what that means 😂.