Keeping Good Company by Bea Tifton

My parents and I recently combined households. I'd lived alone for more than 25 years, including during the Pandemic lockdown. I've got to confess that I've developed some odd habits; singing snatches of songs at the top of my voice, eating two cheese sticks and a handful of barbeque flavored potato chips for dinner, and talking to myself. A lot. 

The first time I got caught, my father walked into the kitchen. He looked around, then when he realized I was alone he looked a little nonplussed, and I was embarrassed. I’ve talked to myself in my car and gotten strange looks. One jerk even made the crazy sign, twirling his finger in circles.  When I had a mask on, it was harder for people to catch me out in stores, but now, well…

I need to be clear. I am not walking around constantly mumbling to myself and shaking my fists. I don't ask and answer myself. I've long outgrown my imaginary friends. I'm fully aware that I am talking to myself. Sometimes, I just need to talk through something, especially if I'm confused or working through a particularly thorny problem.

Should I be worried about this little idiosyncrasy? The Cleveland Clinic assures their online readers that talking to yourself is perfectly all right. Talking out loud can even improve focus.  In the article, “Why Do People Talk to Themselves?” Web MD writes, "Most people talk to themselves regularly. This may happen when thinking through ideas, when debating decisions, or when in need of a pep talk."

Honestly, since I talk to myself when I am thinking, I wonder what people who never talk to themselves are doing. Is it just crickets chirping inside their brains? Do they not have any issues or news big enough that they need to go through it out loud? 

Many of the columns I read as background for my blog post wrote about talking to yourself as giving yourself pep talks or using affirmations. Those don't ever work for me. I just feel too silly looking in the mirror and saying, "I'm good enough, and doggone it, people like me." But debating whether I should go ahead and get bananas now or wait, well, that's an issue worthy of a chat. 

I've also heard and read that since the Pandemic more people are talking to themselves than every before, so it may happen to you yet. Just make sure someone isn't going to come walking into the room when you're doing it. 

Websites: 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-it-normal-to-talk-to-yourself/#:~:text=Is%20It%20Normal%3F-,%E2%80%9CTake%20a%20deep%20breath.,to%20get%20the%20maximum%20benefit.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/talking-to-yourself#is-it-healthy

https://www.webmd.com/balance/why-people-talk-to-themselves

Photo Credits from Pexels:

Moose Photos: "Woman Wearing Pink Top"

Andrea Piacquadio: "Woman in Gray Tank Top"

Andrea Piacquadio: "Photo of Woman Looking at the Mirror"

SHVETS production: "Bananas in Eco Bag"

Polina Tankilevitch: "A Woman in White Knit Sweater Covering Her Face: