Thank you for sharing.

For years I was shy and kept to myself.

Then I realized I was missing out on people and experiences.

One way I did that was chatting with people at a bar.

It helped my confidence.

Years later, it led to me giving the sweatshirt off my back to a gentleman who liked my Coast Guard sweatshirt :) I did write about it.

Yes it's awkward, but like you said, I'll take a few moments of awkwardness for the bigger goal of developing friendships.

Well done!