Still living in the same town that many have left is not easy. You've basically volunteered yourself to being the welcome wagon when they return for/from their school, break, honeymoon, yadda yadda yadda. And yes, you are kinda obligated to ask:
"Hurray for you! How's your (insert here the happy occasion/accomplishment that you heard or found out about via facebook)?" They will reply and provide me with details about what they're doing. I'm generally pretty interested up to the point when they stop to ask me, "So, you're still here?"
...Umm. Yea, I AM standing in front of you in my work uniform, in the restaurant I've been working at since high school. Yea, I'm still here.
Of course I'd never say that. I smile, laugh, and give my condensed schpeel about the future I'm planning and becoming progressively stressed out about because people keep asking (thanks a lot). I'll pepper in some jokes to fill the awkward silences. Most just accept my explanation and move on but for those who try to help me out or give me advice, I have found the best conversation stopper, "Can I get you something to drink?" I am at work after all.
I know it's not their fault for the choices I made but bringing attention to them is not..helping. It's not like I'm not aware that I'm stuck. There's no light bulb that you're lighting above my head with your pep talk about "just going out there and doin' it." Telling me it'll all work out because I'm bright doesn't help either. On the contrary, it makes me want to stick my head into the fryer.
Just support me by buying me a drink, giving me a high five, or leaving me a good tip. Just as long as the good tip isn't life-coaching related.
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