Social Awkwardness

[usonian]

12. Sounds to me like you're a creative person, the likes of a Picasso

Hard to fit in with "normal" society. I had the same problem. I always seemed "in the wrong time"

Try to make the best of your situation.

Maybe some time-wasters like "Wow", or "Can you imagine that" or anything that will pass the buck, let the other person speak and lead the conversation. Your replies can get cues from that lead, so they don't spring entirely from the creative corner of your brain.

I resist the urge to reply "Gee, that reminds me of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in my daily life"
I try to keep things simple.

Listening is an art, and the key to good conversations, but it doesn't happen in a split-second, naturally.

Not expert advice. I just managed to do OK in very different situations over time.

And I read a bunch of pop-psychology books and marketing, when I was the techie on a sales team.

Have some interesting stories saved up, but you never know what the other person wants to hear until they open up. Let them, if you can. They have stories to tell, too.

HTH