The Party

[morrigirl]

Today I have been faced with my first real job related challenge: deciding whether or not to attend the staff Halloween party. Well, it's nt REALLY a staff Halloween party, rather it's a Halloween party that Charles is having to which he has invited all of his co-workers, along with other people he knows. It's gonna be your typical drink and mingle sort of affair.

It doesn't sound like much of a decision does it? After all, what have I been bitching about for the last two weeks? My lonliness and desire for a social life. Well all of my co-workers will be there, all the "cool kids" as I've come to call them. It'll be a chance for me to socialize and get in good with them outside the work environment. Nothing but good can come of that right? So what's the problem?

Well, I haven't attended a party in about five years. I stopped going to themfor three reasons: 1) I don't drink and as a consequence find it difficult to have fun at parties where most of the attendees are drinking. 2) I'm no good at mingling. I never know what to say to strangers. My social ineptitude is readily apparent insuch situations and I typically wind up sitting alone in a corner somewhere looking and feeling like an idiot, and 3) because of #'s 1 and 2 I usually don't have any fun at parties.

So my dilemma is this: should I go even though history tells me that I won't have fun? Or should I just stay home? In all honesty, I want to go, but I'm just so afraid my social ineptitude will exile me to the corner all night, tus revealing what a silly, stupid, little girl I am to all of my co-workers. I don't want them to know how pathetic I am. I'm afraid if they know I'll become a permanent outcast around here. I don't want to go and then end up feeling worse as is usually the case when I go to a party.

I don't know what to do, and since I'm conflicted I probably just won't go. Better safe than sorry.

Comments

[kdc4evr.livejournal.com]

you should go, and make sure you always have something to drink. Not alcohol obviously since you dont drink alcohol, but just something in your hand to raise to your mouth. I think people drink at parties more for this comforting motion than anything. It's not like most drinks actually taste good. Of course sometimes people want to get drunk b/c it loosens them up and they feel more social. But I think drinking is considered a social activity because the act of holding a drink and drinking it is comforting. I also thinks this explains people who are social smokers. When you dont have something to say, you drink instead. You can just stand in a group of people and listen and keep sipping your drink and never have to say anything. It works pretty well actually. And if you feel like contributing, you can. You just have to force yourself to stand there and listen to people talk and resist the urge to go hide in the corner.

And you know, if it sucks or you're too uncomfortable, you can go home. Make up an excuse in advance that you can use if you decide to leave early that way you dont have to think one up on the spot.

I say go, at least for an hour, ya never know what could happen :p