Bribery sounds like a nasty word, coercing someone into doing something they don’t want to do but it’s worked well for me. I’m a social coward. I’m not comfortable in lots of social situations, I can bluff my way through but it’s not enjoyable for me. Having to perform in public is something that I loathe but when I was working I often couldn’t avoid it. When the worst of these situations came up I resorted to bribery.
I had to conduct a Signing Choir at the Festival Theatre so I promised myself that if I did it I could buy the dragon earrings I really liked. Even that wasn’t quite enough to get me through it, I had to go to a doctor for some “Beta Blockers”. I was so ashamed I went to a doctor near my work, someone I’d never seen before and wouldn’t see again. I was surprised when she told me several people who played in the Symphony Orchestra used them.
For a few months at one workplace I had a bad time and every day was a trial, I promised myself a quirky little ornament if I made it to Friday. They are the ones on my kitchen windowsill.
I sometimes use Smarties to bribe little grandkids to get into their car but big bribes are all for me!
You didn’t know that about Nana did you?
Musings of a Retiring Person 