Reasons why we can feel weird around others

We've all been in situations where we feel totally out of our element, and this can happen for a number of reasons.

At some point you've likely felt out of place because the people around you:

Were lot older or younger than you
All had kids while you don't, or vice-versa
Were of the opposite sex
Were all discussing something you had no knowledge of or interest in (sports, shopping, etc.)

These situations generally play out in certain settings. It can happen quite often at work, since many of the people with which we're forced to work -- whether because of age, life stage, or other factors -- would not be the kinds of people we'd hang out with on weekends.

It can also be seen at family gatherings. When my sisters and I were younger, I had a lot more in common with them -- and we even shared some of the same hobbies. Their having babies threw a monkey wrench of sorts into the works. Now I see them as strangers who focus solely on their kids at every gathering and have little else to talk about.

Whether it's at work or at a family gathering, I scour the room for someone I can strike up a conversation with -- at the right time. For example, if I see my sister going inside the house with her kid and leaving her husband in the back yard, that's my cue to go back there and chat him up. It's opportune times like these where you might be able to talk to someone about whatever crosses your mind. But when the person has a screaming baby to attend to, for example, it changes the whole dynamic.

It's tough feeling as though you can't relate to people you're with. But all you have to do is remind yourself that sooner or later you'll be in a more comfortable place again -- whether at the movies with your closest friends or at the restaurant with your husband.

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