When you know you gotta change

Centralia, Missouri
May 24, 2016 9:34am CST
Remember all those things that bugged you about your mom or your dad. You'd never be like that....and later it's smacked you in the face that you totally are? We may love people, but they may have bad habits they have gotten lazy about breaking. What is mine? Interrupting. I have a HORRIBLE time at not doing this. I grew up in a loud chaotic home, and often if you didn't do this, you never got a word in edgewise. So it became habit...and it still is. Most of the time it's on subject. I guess I feel like I always know where someone is going with what they are saying, but feel they are taking too long to get there. So I have this uncontrollable urge to finish their sentences. I know this is rude. I still find myself doing it. I have to stop. Heh. I guess this is MY addiction to work on. I have started with a few small things. I am trying not to guess what they are saying, but if I need to say anything stick to words like oh? Right? And? Why? Because? These things I feel show I am listening, but don't sound like I am taking over the conversation. I am also wearing a rubber band on my wrist. If I feel the urge to take over the conversation, I can play with it, fiddle with it or snap it. I know that most of the time the super urgent thing I need to say is really not that urgent. This doesn't help tons with the fear of forgetting, but honestly, if I forget it, was it really that important? Sigh. The fact I am this bad still at my age, a habit I should have broken years ago is embarrasing.
16 people like this
17 responses
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 16
We all have habits we need to do away with. That rubber band thing may be a great idea.
4 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
I am going to get a bag of colored ones, so I can change it out, so I dont start overlooking it, I want a visible reminder each time i see it to be more careful
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
24 May 16
Bad girl. But recognising a problem is the first step towards fixing it.
2 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
it's hard when, well YOU dont see it as a problem. It doesnt bother me when others do it! Not often anyways. So fixing something that I see as common and normal, makes it harder. Still I gotta do it, so -shrugs-
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
27 May 16
I have a habit of rolling my eyes at the ceiling which gives away to people that I'm bored by their dumb conversations
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
29 May 16
lol, Ive done that, gotta work on that neutral expression of polite faked interest
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
24 May 16
The fact that you understand there is a problem and you are working to fix it and improve it's already a great achievement. I am sure that we all have habits that should be fixed.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
25 May 16
@Jessicalynnt Those little helpers are great.
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
the rubber band is the biggest help, it's a contant reminder. I will pick up some in various colors, SO I keep on remembering
1 person likes this
• United States
24 May 16
Parts of me turned into my parents but I refuse to watch sports or westerns!
1 person likes this
• United States
24 May 16
@Jessicalynnt I never wanted to learn, now I wish I had.
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
25 May 16
@AbbyGreenhill gram tried to each me, I could do a basic stitch, but not read a pattern and NOT cast on at all
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
lol, I still cannot knit! So I am not that part of mom anyways
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
24 May 16
Lol.. I'm done fixing my problems!! I feel if I have to put up with other people's quirks and shortfalls.. Well, they can bloody well put up with mine too!
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
24 May 16
@Jessicalynnt that's fair enough when you have another person who has made the effort. But I must say, the day when I stopped working on my shortfalls and focused on developing and cross-developing my strengths, was the best day of my life. I still have plenty issues, I just no longer care about it, and other people have adapted to them.
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
lol, if only! Still he worked on his issues, temper, his has gotten better, mine have not, so it's make or break I guess
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
@Drosophila I think I should do a little with the strengths too, so maybe I feel a little less worthless
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
27 May 16
I'm seeing more and more of my parents and their funny sayings emerging in me!
@marlina (154130)
• Canada
25 May 16
I am a little bit guilty of this too.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
25 May 16
It can be hard to change, but if we are motivated enough it can happen.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
27 May 16
\I'm glad you're working on it ... it sounds like you're doin well.... I have a similar habit in that sometimes I wish people would get to the point quicker.... but I'm like that with reading... I really dislike lots of description.... I like it direct and to the point ... he walked into the room and shot him... not about how the moon was dancing on the door and silhouetting the wall paper and the remnants of the dinner was clinging to the air... ... no .. he went in and shot him and left.... short and sweet... lol's
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
24 May 16
ha ha ha I would enjoy an afternoon with you - we would finish each other's sentences and statements - however i sometimes do it in a song - let me give you an example . . you say Did you see the sunshine . . and before you finish I'll be singing . . . I've got sunshine on a rainy day . . My daughters have started to do it as well, LIKE their mother
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
if the person I am talking to doesnt mind that sort of thing, I am fine with it! I dont see it as rude!!! but others do, and I am pissing off people I care about. So...have to get it more under control
1 person likes this
• United States
24 May 16
I find myself interrupting when I shouldn't....it's a hard habit to break
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
24 May 16
it really is, but I am determined this time to at least become more aware of it and do it less
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 May 16
I often feel I know where a conversation is going too. Some people can be really long-winded can't they?
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
25 May 16
indeed.. they never get to the point omg!! I used to say to some of my friends "skip to the end" or "summarize plx" they find it funny
@trivia79 (7828)
• El Segundo, California
25 May 16
that is really a bad habit, interrupting. it shows disrespect too.
@Tampa_girl7 (50524)
• United States
24 May 16
You can break this habit. You are halfway there with the desire too.......good luck.
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 May 16
You're not alone. I interrupt a lot too, and I'm trying hard to stop it. My bad habit I'm trying to break is my bad housekeeping. My mother was not a good housekeeper, and I learned it from her. I've been doing very well with my house in the past month.
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 May 16
I grew up in a loud chaotic home too. But I have the opposite effect. I speak less and have a soft way to speak.