Photo by Jaunty graduate, Artur Moczulsk
But in big groups and work events I used to drive through any anxiety by gritting my teeth. “Just get through it, just get through it,” I’d tell myself. And I did, but with very little joy.
I have always been an introvert and preferred to make deeper “one on one” connections in lieu of having many acquaintances and a large social circle. But as I’ve grown older, this preference has not always served me well.
Yet, despite having made some crucial changes for the better, I was still on the defensive and my various stressors exacerbated my social anxiety. I knew I needed to find new ways of interacting with people and move on with my life.
Adrienne (third from the right) with friends in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at a family-run tequila distillery
With the help of Jaunty, I blazed down my new path of social freedom. I went from stiff, guarded, introvert to a smiling, confident, woman of the world in six weeks! Now, I feel amazing and self-assured that I can approach anyone and talk to anyone. In fact, I’m off now to make dinner for new friends. We’re having enchiladas, tonight. Sounds good, right?
Adrienne and her boyfriend Derrick camping at Los Padres National Forest for her birthday.
The six-week course seemed perfect, an individualized experience with the support of a classroom environment. Just what I needed!
There I was on my first day of Jaunty, crossed arms and stiff jaw, in essence protecting myself from strangers in an unknown environment. But with the support of Jaunty and my classmates, I learned to slow-down, release tension and allowed myself to open up to my dream of a new and improved social life.
I used to have so much fear in approaching new people and starting a conversation. I was scared people would think I was bothering them, or that strangers might be mean to me. Through Jaunty, I realized that my belief was not grounded in fact, and usually quite the opposite was true. Over time, my old belief was replaced with my new belief; in essence, there are people out there in the world just waiting to meet me!
