Hi there,
I'd say you're a bit too hard on yourself. "Hey man" sounds like a perfectly fine greeting to me. Maybe the guy nodded and you didn't see him. As for being silent at the dentist, perhaps you felt you were put on the spot? I don't have social phobia but I can imagine being put off and perhaps a bit silent if i get a very abrupt question. I don't think what you did was dumb or weird at all.
Half the time, we carry the things we did and said with us for a long time, when the person we interacted with (dentist, sister's friend) have forgotten all about it already.
The important thing I can see is that you did not have bad intentions in these situations, in fact you tried to be friendly. What other people do in response is their responsibility. If they are mean, unfriendly, indifferent etc, those things reflect their inner state, not you as a person.
anyway, all the best to you :-)
|