As a kid, I hated chit-chat. I thought:

Why say useless things?
Do you feel lonely?
I don’t, leave me alone.
I’m not interested in discussing the weather!

But as I grew up I understood: trying to engage in smalltalk is above all acknowledging the recipient as a fellow human. It’s saying:

Hello, I saw you and want you to know you’re not a nobody to me, but deserve some of my time and attention.

I still don’t see much point in discussing the weather, but I’m glad you came to me. I hope we’ll soon find an opening to anything that’s interesting to you, me, or both!