How would you react if someone approached to start a conversation with you at the gym?
I am a very socially awkward person. I have 2 very close friends, but outside of that my social circle is very thin. Like with physical fitness, I can only get better at making connections with practice and training. I'm thinking of starting conversations with strangers at my gym, because that is one place where I come across people who I see almost daily but have never talked to. Here's what I want to do:
- Talk to at least one person daily at the gym
- Approach someone who has either finished their workout or is resting between sets
- Start with a topic like "what's your training split" or ask about anything I find interesting about them
- Continue the conversation only if they respond positively. If I sense that they don't appreciate being approached, I'll back off
- Always respect people's boundaries
My main goal is to build some good connections, and to expose myself to situations that scare me. I am very happily married, so there's no secondary motive beyond getting to know people and potentially making some friends. My first candidate is this man who is probably in his 50s but has a better physique than most people in their 20s. He looks very approachable and has helped me with my form a couple of times.
What do you think about my experiment? Would you respond if someone approached you to talk?