Why are you asking?

I have a habit of asking a lot of questions.  It’s my way of getting to know someone and finding out more about a person.  I am genuinely a curious person and I am intrigued by people and where they are from, what they do, and why they do it!  It is how I make conversation and how I connect with people. It is also how I understand where a person is coming from, their position and views on things, and how they think.  People have such vastly different lives and we all have different views on things.  

I also really like to learn from people around me.  I know my way is certainly not the best way to do things and I want to know how people do things.  What systems do they have in place, what routines, and what decisions and compromises have they made to get them where they are.  Maybe I agree maybe I won’t but to find out more from others around me gives me something to consider and think about.

As much as I love asking questions I really feel uncomfortable answering them.  Most people are so nice to answer all my questions and follow-up questions. But, I myself find that I am almost defensive if people ask me questions.  I automatically assume that if they are asking me questions that they are doubting me and second guessing me. Isn’t that terrible? That is almost never the case but my mind jumps to that conclusion.  I ask my husband all the time, before answering him, “wait, why are you asking?” Poor guy cannot even ask me “Why did you buy another package of cheese?” without me getting defensive.

I don’t know why I can’t just answer without thinking too much about why the person is asking.  Especially since I myself dish out questions all day!