A geek is often described as one who is passionate about their hobbies or fandoms, and when it comes right down to it, this is a pretty accurate description of what we are. Passion is a wonderful thing and we geeks have it in abundance. Sometimes, however, passion (at least for just one thing) is not enough.
I feel rather strongly that in order to lead a truly full life, humans must have as diverse an experience as possible. As is so often the case with geeks, I sometimes tend to find out little niches and stay there, rarely venturing out into the rest of the world. Being an introvert, I can understand how this is both easy and comfortable for others as well. It’s hard to come out from under our little shelters and interact with the world as a whole. We are not the best at social interactions and it is often frustrating and emotionally exhausting. This does not mean that in the end doing so isn’t worth it. Take my job for instance. I am not by nature an outgoing person who likes to get up in front of people and speak. My choice of career however requires that I do exactly that, at times on a daily basis and for hours at a time. I often come home completely exhausted only to have to do it all again the next day. Having said all of that, my job is one of the most rewarding things in my life. I love what I do, and so I take the good with the bad. Had I refused to do something that makes me uncomfortable, I wouldn’t have this amazing job.
I’m not advocating that people change who they are and suddenly force themselves to be extroverts. Being true to one’s self is of paramount importance. I’d never ask someone to give up those things that make them who they are. No, instead I suggest thinking about taking baby steps. Branch out just a little bit. Take an existing interest and try expanding on it a little. Also, keep in mind that trying something once or twice is by no means signing up for a lifetime commitment. Getting out of an existing comfort zone can be nerve wracking at first, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.
I know from personal experience that putting myself out there has had some major benefits. When I moved to a new area eight years ago, I knew one person, who promptly moved away six months after I arrived. I had a little experience in doing technical theatre and so my girlfriend at the time suggested I try to connect with a local community theatre group, as a way to make friends. I am so glad that I went out on a limb and took her advice. At first I was painfully shy and barely spoke to anyone. It took close to a year to really fit in and become part of the group there. Now, the theatre has provided me with some of my closest friends, including my fiancé. I have had so much fun with these people, both in and out of productions, I can’t even begin to imagine my life without them. While I realize that theatre may not be for everyone, it’s the basic idea of putting one’s self out there and seeing what life has to offer.
Another thing I have discovered is that the more diverse my life experiences have become, the better I am at communicating with “normal” people. While geeks are some of my favorite people, most of the world doesn’t self-identify as one (even though they probably could). The disappointing truth is that most of the people I interact with on a daily basis aren’t geeks and therefore don’t have any real interest in talking about geeky things. Whether it is just small talk, or a more substantial conversation, relating to the non-geek often requires knowledge and opinions on a broad range of topics. I’m not a particularly big sports fan (though I do have my favorite, often terrible, teams) but I’ve picked up enough about most sports to at least listen intelligently, if not actively contribute to a conversation through doing things outside of my normal range of experiences. For instance, I have friends that are massive hockey fans, so I went to games with them, even though I had absolutely no idea what the rules are. We had a great time, and now I have a better understanding for future reference.
We are only able to take one trip through life. Why not take advantage of it and experience everything that there is to experience? While it is always important to remain true to one’s self, there is nothing wrong with taking a chance at expanding horizons and seeing what happens. Remember “it’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy…Let’s go exploring.”
Therefore I Geek 