You are who you choose to be

Here's a little background information behind this blog.

My brother, Trent, has a rare bone disease called McCune Albright Syndrome which consists primarily of Fibrous Dysplasia (makes the bones brittle and easily breakable) and endocrine system abnormalities (like Hyperthyriodism - thankfully it's no longer an issue).  When Trent was diagnosed with this disease, my parents didn't knowhow to navigate this new phase in their lives.  It was then that they received the best advice they ever could have: "treat him normally".  And they did.  Trent is a perfectly normal, hilarious, intelligent, wonderful, loving, and sometimes annoying little brother whom I love more than I can say.

Despite the severity of his disease, Trent's life-long doctor, Dr. Stanton, was determined to make that statement/advice a reality.  His main goal was to keep Trent out of a wheelchair and walking.  Here is the note my brother wrote to Dr. Stanton after his graduation:

I choked up reading it.

Dr. Stanton:

Thank you so much for your kindness in sending me the check for $75.00 for my graduation. I plan on continuing at our local community college then hopefully transfer to Grove City College.

Thanks to you I am not in a wheelchair and I have lived a relatively normal life. That is the greatest gift I was ever given and on graduation day I was reminded of that gift as I walked down the aisle.

Thank you for everything.

Trent

He's a testament to the fact that you aren't defined by your circumstances, challenges, disabilities, etc.  Thank you to the doctors who gave my parents that invaluable advice.  Thank you to the doctors that have enabled Trent to lead a normal life.  Mostly, thank You God for Your never ending mercies, grace, and love. God truly is sufficient.

Talkin' talkin' talkin' talk..

You know those people who are easy to talk to? The ones who naturally keep a conversation flowing from one topic to the next without batting an eye?  Or those who make it easier to (cliche alert!) be yourself and are genuinely interested in what's being said? I know a few people like that.  No matter what you're talking about, they make you feel like what you're saying is interesting or important.  They are some of the sweetest and kindest people you will ever meet, and I would love to be like that.

Recently, I've been more aware of my conversation skills (or lack thereof).  I've come to the realization that, despite not being the stereotypical home-schooler, I have managed to mostly become....brace yourselves...socially awkward.  I know.  It's true.  I'm sure many of you are thinking right now, "No!" or "It's not possible! Jennifer is the coolest person ever!!" or "Oh the humanity!".  I know.  I was thinking the same thing.

But it's true.  I, Jennifer Lynn Moore am almost entirely conversationally inept.  I wish that was where it ended, but unfortunately, there's more.  I'm even worse when I have to actually MEET people and get to know them. Seriously, if I had a reality TV show,  my audience would quickly drop off due to death-by-cringe.  I'm the most awkward person ever when it comes to interacting with humanity.

Seriously though, all joking aside, I've found it quite difficult to talk to people.  Once we've moved past the usual pleasantries of a conversation, I find it nearly impossible to come up with something to talk about that isn't redundant, shallow, not worth discussing, etc.  I'm already utterly hopeless when it comes to stimulating conversation - heaven help me if I actually have to begin a discussion.  It's not that I'm not interested or not listening to the other person/people - I just don't know how to both listen AND contribute...I think....I don't know.

I'm not sure if what I'm saying makes any sense.  All I know is I could definitely use some pointers about how not to be a conversation killer. 

How do you people do it?!