Shut up already (I said to myself)!

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Okay, here's one that could probably be cross-posted. Maybe it's more about emotional mastery or personal effectiveness...who knows?

Have any of you tried to go from being a talker to a more quiet person?

To explain, my mom is one of those people who sometimes just bugs the crap out of you by talking to you when you just want some peace and quiet. Or keeps asking you what's wrong when you clearly don't want to talk about it (and when I say clearly, I mean you've said it repeatedly). She takes forever to tell a story and leaves really long messages on voicemail. Sometimes she says stuff that makes me cringe or gets kind of rude with servers in restaurants, etc... I have nothing but love for my mom. I just can't stand this little thing...it's like Bridget Jones - just always talking too much and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time...well, maybe not quite that bad, but you get the picture. I am sure lots of people get embarrased by stuff their parents do, however...

I have noticed that I do the same thing considering how much I loathe these traits in her (damn reflections!). I have seen people give me the same look I give her, but sometimes I can't seem to stop myself. And I have had some people tell me that I am like her (and they mean in the not so great sense - the annoying one).

In fact, I am sure a few of you can attest to my rambling and probably inappropriate use of your time on my problems. For instance, "oh, well when that happened to me" or "I know what you mean, when I did the same thing" blah, blah, blah.

So how do you get yourself to stop and think before you speak? I've been trying and noticed a few instances where I just told myself to shut the *bleep* up...with some success. But I don't want to be one of those people who half-listens to someone all the while formulating what I am going to say next...and that's what I am right now . *shudders* I am one of those people. Help me, please. Thank you.