please don't tell me to not change; i'm genuinely tired of constantly speaking like i'm in Customer Service Mode™.
since I was a kid, I've felt like I spoke too much like a know-it-all. I have that "erm, actually 🤓☝🏿" voice and cadence. I feel like it makes me sound overly pretentious and I genuinely don't know how to stop it.
it makes me feel like a weirdo around my peers; makes me feel like a prudish grandma. i'm black, and when i'm around Black people who speak AAVE, I feel so weird and out of place. I wish I just spoke more casually.
even the phrases I use are textbook-y. one person's "that sucks" is my "I'm sorry to hear that." like?!! I don't think ppl want someone who sounds like the Declaration of Independence around 😭
please help!!