I’m not really a shy person, per se.  I’ll go basically anywhere alone – shopping, dining out, the movies, special events, meetings, a party, you name it.  But sometimes, I just don’t have it in me to just put myself out there in a whole new situation where I don’t know a soul.  I mean, why feel awkward out in public when you can just stay at home snuggled up with a good book (though my current choice is more mediocre than good) or some really cheesy TV (when will this strike end?).

Today is one of those days.  As I mentioned yesterday, I recently started the Incubator program with Ladies Who Launch.  We’ve had one meeting thus far.  This evening there’s a large LWL group meeting (with some media specialist gal) out in Santa Monica.  Part of me really wants to go as I’m so psyched about meeting new people, especially new motivated, entrepreneurial women.  For all I know, I might meet my next business contact, or someone that would love to advertise on my site, or become an “expert” or who knows what.

Thing is, I’m just not feeling it today.  Mostly, I’m just not up for a rush-hour drive on the 405 to get my ass into Santa Monica on time.  To be honest, I don’t think that I’ve ever made the commute to Santa Monica solo before. *yikes*  But also, I’m just not really up for hanging out with mass amounts of women (and doing the whole nine yards – hair, make-up, clothes) all while knowing no one.  I just don’t feel like being sociable tonight.  I did reach out to two of my other LWL incubatorees out here on the other side of the hill, but I don’t think they plan on going tonight either (one has other plans, the other hasn’t yet responded).

So while I’d never consider myself a shy person, I do have moments of shyness that can sometimes seem to leave me a bit frozen and stagnant, if not actually a bit fearful of meeting new people.  As they like to tell us, you only get one shot to make a first impression, and call me silly, but I just don’t see me making a great first impression tonight.  I just don’t seem to feel it.