Of Umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-ehs

I’m a rather social person.  I find other people very entertaining and if I could I would spend the majority of my time meeting and learning about other people.  I have never had a problem meeting people; I’m a very approachable individual apparently.  Recently I have developed a theory that I am particularly fond of for it’s novelty and assistance in the increased occurence of social interaction.

I call it the Umbrella Theory.

In my first semester at USD I returned to campus from lunch faced with the task of walking through campus with a rather heavy rain ahead of me.  I dove into my trunk and grabbed my golf umbrella.  My golf umbrella is black and could probably fit all of Rhode Island under it.  So I commenced my walk to class.

Along the way a girl from this particular class I was headed to came jogging up behind me, trying to keep from getting horribly wet.  She slowed to a walk next to me and took shelter under my umbrella.  I began small talk and welcomed her in the dry-zone. (Yes, there will be a fill in the blank exam on this theory.)

I may have hinted on this earlier, but I appear to be a very agreeable character.  I have not met too many people that did not find themselves content (at a minimum) with my company.  However, this theory has little to do with that fact, and can be generalized very well.

This is a call to the public to pick a side! Ditch the umbrellas and seek shelter (and company) or wield your umbrella with pride, and welcome strangers to become acquaintances!

Sharing an umbrella really is a pleasant experience.  Because few umbrellas are large enough for both “personal space” bubbles to fit, the two must sacrifice and become slightly unguarded with the other.  I could not see a greater benefit from the umbrella!

Too often are people guarded by their “personal space” (I myself am very selective of those I let within my bubble) and are unreasonably comfortable without anyone expressing interest in getting to know them. Granted, personal space can still be intact while getting to know someone, but I feel being slightly uncomfortable aids in development of a new relationship.

Let’s look at that statement for a second.  If you’re uncomfortable, what do you do? The obvious answer is to make the situation comfortable.  But how do we do that?  Suppose you run up to someone and ask if you may join their dry zone.  Why would they say no? (Assuming they’re not completely rude–in which case you would rather be wet than put up with their rudeness.) So, in order to ease this person in their anxiety of letting you into their dry zone (and thereby personal space) you would introduce yourself, so that they are not offended by a stranger hijacking their dryness! Most likely they would reciprocate the introduction (unless they are a rude individual) and small talk would commence.  Assuming the small talk proves interesting, it may develop into a conversation, which could easily develop into someone making the leap to invite the other person to become a friend (that is, request future interaction of some sort).

That situation seems very probable, correct?  Even if you encounter a rude individual, at the least you have had some form of interaction with another human being.

My Umbrella Theory officially states:
“Utilization of an umbrella as a tool for encouraging social interaction can result in a ‘set-up’ of sorts for introductions and development of potential friendships.”

So I guess what I’m trying to say is: don’t hog the dry-zone.
-AJ