Thursday, May 31, 2012

Do you know what an introvert is?

I didn't. Seven or so years ago, I was the bookkeeper for a small company in a small town in Florida. My boss had a son a couple of years younger than me who used to come and hang out in my office. I'd do my thing and he'd do his and we'd talk or not talk. One day he was talking about an article he'd read that he thought I would like called "Caring for your introvert". I don't know if I ever read it, I probably did (I like to read things). It was the first time someone had ever called me an introvert.

When I was growing up, my mom, brother, and stepfather always seemed to go out of their way to make me feel like an oddball. Sometimes I'd rather stay home than go out - especially if everyone else in the house is going out!! I need time to myself. Uninterrupted thinking time. I don't need constant stimulation. I'm totally fine sitting in complete silence - whether you're there or not. I read in the car mostly so I don't have to talk to the other people in the car. Spending time with people is draining for me. It has NOTHING to do with the person or people I'm with, it's just the nature of the beast.

When I was twenty-eight years old I met Kelly. Kelly told me that I'm a square peg and the world is made up of round holes. She describes introversion as having a "rich inner landscape" where "there's no room for other people". How's that for a kick in the ass? I'm not strange, like my family would have you think. I simply have a rich inner landscape. Guess what that means, people? You're not strange, either!! There is NOTHING wrong with you! Good news, huh?


Filling my inner landscape up with mudslides...


7 comments:

  1. Damned straight. Introvert and proud. I often put my big ass headphones on when I'm out. They're usually not even plugged into anything, but it stops people talking to me.

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  2. Love it! Wise words from Kelly. And I totally agree. Introverts are highly underrated, and made to feel bad for what really is a strength -- just a different strength from the people (extroverts...) that make that arbitrary designation. Introverts unite! Over mudslides, please...

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  3. I'm not saying that it's a strength or a weakness - it just IS. I don't think it makes me "better" than people, but I'm certainly not any worse. I was 28 before I knew that it's not something to "get over" or feel bad about, it's just me. And no mudslides for you, Beth! Milkshakes only for a few more months :)

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  4. totally agree with this post. When I used to work, I would come home so drained from 8-10 hours of being with "other people." I would even say, "it's like they are vampires, sucking the blood of life out of me. I need to be by myself for awhile." I enjoy my own company tremendously, love to read, and as you say, don't need constant stimulation. So nice to know I am not alone. Everyone around me needs people around them all the time and have to yak, yakkity yak all the time, heehee. Not me. I need me some quiet time. By myself. I always knew I was an introvert, the rest around me, extroverts. Yes, I've been made fun of because I choose not to socialize every minute of the day. Don't want to. Don't need to.

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  5. You should read Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain...and also see the Ted Talk on the same. :)

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  6. I'm with ya Goog. When ny husband says, "You never want to do anything", I say,"I'm doing exactly what I want to do."

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  7. Love your post Goog. I always ponder my content state of introversion and I love Kelly's view of it ^_*.

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