When children do it we smile and chuckle to ourselves. When adults do it people tend to raise their eyebrows and perhaps move farther away. I do it. I’ll bet that you do it too. What are we doing that is so bizarre? Talking to ourselves! It can be amusing to watch. And it can be damn annoying when you’re trying to figure something out by speaking out loud and it doesn’t work!
To be honest I’m sure there are those who just like to hear the sound of their own voice. If you have animals or small children, speaking out loud is easy to explain. I find it helps me focus on something and remember it. Also because in order to write I am dictating I’m naturally speaking out loud. When I’m trying to figure out that one particular twist in a story I talk to my characters. People who read my stories recognize that I often put in a twist. The pressure is on to surprise my readers, something they don’t expect. I love to be fooled in a story. I love it when I’m not able to figure it out. I don’t want to know how the story will end three paragraphs in. I want to be surprised. So that’s the way I write my stories. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out a pivotal point. Sometimes it takes months, sometimes it never happens.
So I do have conversations with myself. Sometimes it is simply one line: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!” I think I say that a lot. The world is constantly conspiring to annoy me. Hahaha! I know it’s not just trying to annoy me! But some days . .
I think that I’m a good listener. I know I’m a good talker. There are very few topics I don’t have an opinion on. This from a child who wouldn’t say “boo” to a ghost. My how the times have changed. I think if you’re comfortable enough with your self to actually hold a conversation with yourself you must be pretty self-aware. Not everybody is. Some are a little too aware of themselves! But hey, life goes on . . . sometimes loudly!
Butterfly Sand 
I do it a lot – even in my sleep, apparently! 🙂
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hahaha You may be giving stock tips in your sleep!
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If anyone could hear what goes on between spirit and myself they would go get the straight jackets immediately 😀
I even burst out laughing when shown things that I’m doing by spirit, and the looks that I get because there is no one near me to associate the reaction….they are very confused, followed by shuffling sideways to obtain as much distance between me and them as they can 😀
Having someone ‘on board’ takes it to a whole new level 🙂
Great post Pam, enjoy you and yourself, they give great wisdom 🙂
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Thank you Mark! I do the same thing: I burst out laughing when no one is near. I am sure people wonder . . .
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haha Love this 🙂 And I love your surprise endings in your stories – you catch me out every time! 🙂
Also, my husband’s excuse for never listening to me – is that he never knows if I’m talking to the dogs, or myself! 😀
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You are so good for my ego!
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Glad to hear it 🙂
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I think that we all talk to ourselves – sometimes verbally and sometimes via our thoughts.
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I agree completely!
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I talk to myself and sometimes even answer. Enjoyed this, Pam.
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Thanks John.
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🙂
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Yes, I’m one who does it, too! Although, sometimes I do answer in return. And in some ways, that’s even more disturbing than if I were simply saying things aloud. 🙂
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Hahaha. It hurts when you lose an argument with yourself!
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I talk to my characters all the time! And yes, myself too! You’re right: it helps me remember things (and saying something 3 times is an old talisman from fairy tales, so you know I’m going to do that…) But also sometimes it’s just a kind of anchor to myself when I’m feeling insignificant and overwhelmed. I also say ‘hello’ (and occasionally ‘thank you’) to birds and other animals that improve my life, but usually not when I think people are listening… 🙂
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I am just like you! It’s nice to know I am not alone. (:D)
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Circumstances were such that I mastered doing so without moving my lips and no one would be the wiser at an early age. 🙂 x0x0
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Now that is a skill I wish I had!
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It is testimony of what one can/will do for survival… you get the picture. x
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I do, and it impresses me even more.
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You are too sweet dear friend!
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I love this post !! Years ago I wanted a dog so I could walk and give myself an excuse to talk to myself. Well that was in my 30’s. Since I’ve been chanting mantras as I walk I use to him softly but Now I really don’t care what anyone thinks.
In stores I ask myself often “do you really need that?” As for my sleep talking well Zim my cat doesn’t seem to mind and my ex never understood me ’cause I dream in English. Hope you are well, Pam x
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I am well Cheryl-Lynn, thanks. I think once we reach a certain point in our lives we understand finally, how to be ourselves. It really doesn’t matter what others think.
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Indeed, it does not. Last fall I read The Autobiography of a Yogi and there was a section about how it is commonplace to hum, chant or pray publicly in India but more restricted in the West. That’s when I decided…life is too precious to deprive myself of joy…sometimes I feel like singing or chanting out loud, so be it.
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