6.20.2006

Talk to the Hand!


I am one of those types of people who talks with my hands. And not just like little gestures - I'm talking "arms flailing, hold onto your drink" type of talking with my hands. A lot of it is redundant gesturing - when I talk about driving, I imitate having my hands on a steering wheel, just to make sure you know what I am talking about. Other times, it is just a general flapping or circling of the hands. Those end up being the ones that get me made fun of the most.

I'm okay with all of this. Here's where I start to get a little concerned, and I need to know whether this is something to worry about or if other people do the same thing.

I've realized that I gesture when I'm talking to myself. It isn't like I'm speaking out loud to myself. But, I notice that if I'm having a nice little dialogue within my head, the hands just don't stay still. This is especially prevalent if I'm in the car by myself... (I guess I do a lot of thinking while I'm driving.) I'm about to the point, though, where I may as well be speaking out loud, because anyone who would see me is going to think that I'm deaf and am signing to an imaginary friend...

Or that I've just got issues... I guess that's okay. They'd be right.

Peace, love, and oreos,
Violet

9 comments:

StringMan said...

Hi Violet ... I think you mentioned a good solution yourself: learn sign language, then you can productively use your hands to articulate your thoughts. It's either that or institutionalizaton, I'm afraid ...

:)

Ben O. said...

Yes, I love oreos.

Thanks, that hit the spot.

Ben O.

Dave Morris said...

Yes. Worry.

Or, put that energy to good use and become a pancake batter mixer. Or one of those guys that guides the plane to the gate.

Violet said...

Stringman: Perhaps they have classes at the local community college. Although, you never, know - a straightjacket may be just the look I need.

Ben: I'm all about the Oreos!

Dave: Don't you mean "one of those chicks...," seeing as I'm a girl and all. But, I'd be all about that. I think it would be the cool freakin' ear muff lookin' things that are the coolest thing about that job.

Nichole said...

Nah, you're not the only one. I do it to (I actually talk outloud to myself though). Ya also ever notice that when people are talking about "typing" to someone that they do the keyboard gesture? Im just sayin...

Diana said...

I talk with my hands a lot too. Mike says that if I sat on my hands, I wouldn't be able to talk. ;o)

Violet said...

Nichole: Are you making fun of me? Because I totally do that when I refer to anything that has to do with a computer.

LBB: Thanks!! On both counts.

Diana: I'm right there with ya!

bh said...

I found your blog by accident today and am glad that I did.

And... I talk with my hands too. Especially when I'm talking out loud to myself. :D I'm told the hands thing is due to Italian blood, but that the talking out loud to myself thing is just simple schizophrenia.

However...after years of practice and training and sitting on my hands, I've managed to tone down the full arm flailing to minimal gesturing from the elbow. And now people are actually willing to stand near me while holding a drink.

As for talking to myself, I'm afraid there's no hope. I'm headed for for the loonie bin for sure. God it's so embarrassing when I catch myself doing it in public. I just know someone is going to dial 911 someday and I'll have to explain myself to the sanity police or something.

And...I totally do the steering wheel and keyboard thing as well. All of my very best friends do the same thing. Some even get up and act out the whole story with sound effects(me). What can I say, we're a bunch of frustrated stage actors. But God are we fun.

bh said...

The weight was gained while working a desk job over the last six months. I need to be active. I started back to the gym two weeks ago. And I'd slit my wrists if I was unemployed for six months. I'd go insane or die of depression or something. I can't do the TWPT thing for more than a couple weeks before going mad. ;}