I’m Not Mad; I’m an Introvert

[Kazimiera]

1. This is your inner monologue during after-work drinks.




2. You know that canceling plans is like winning the damn lottery, especially when someone else does it.




3. You’ve mastered the art of turning a day at home, doing nothing, into SOMETHING WONDERFUL.




4. People often ask, “What are you thinking about?” because they haven’t heard you speak in a while.




5. Meeting new people? Please, you already have more than enough friends.




6. If anyone ever throws you a “fun” surprise party, this is your reaction.




7. Seeing this on your Facebook timeline gives you extreme anxiety.




8. You don’t hate parties, it’s just that you don’t LOVE being around a ton of people.




9. And you’re ready to leave shortly after arriving.




10. But, if for some reason you can’t leave, you know that hiding out in the bathroom is an option.



11. You do like to go out…to get your Netflix DVD.




12. You’ve never said this before:




13. But you have most certainly said this:




14. Agreeing to a lot of nights out in a row isn’t fun. AT. ALL.




15. This would be a realistic OkCupid profile summary:




16. You’ve become that person at parties who hangs out with the food bowl, and that’s OK.




17. You know this to be absolutely true.




18. When you’ve been around people for too long, there comes a moment when you realize you need to be alone OR ELSE.




19. Other people are always ruining your carefully thought-out responses.




20. On the weekends, this is your daily battle:

[Kazimiera]

21. You wear headphones for a reason, and it’s so that people will (hopefully) not talk to you.




22. If you’re working at a coffee shop and someone sits down at your table it’s like…NAH, PLEASE, NAH.




23. The idea of working from home, all by yourself, fills you with a kind of happiness that’s borderline giddy.




24. This looks terrifying:




25. And this looks like the only place you ever want to be forever and ever.




26. You don’t hide your lack of enthusiasm for socializing, and your friends are OK with it…mostly.




27. You wish people would just accept you instead of trying to get you out of the house more.




28. Because being an introvert means you’re a really great listener.




29. And plenty of SUPER-successful people are introverts, like Meryl and Einstein.




30. And while you may not always LOVE being in big groups…




31. You know how awesome you are in your own element.




http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/3...e-an-introvert

[Lusos]

I share a few of those.
But I wouldn't considered myself an Introverted nor an Extroverted Person.
With me depends a lot on the mood for the day.

[SkyBurn]

3, 13, and 20. None of the other ones. I'm a total extrovert, and the only "signs" which I listed are simply a result of me often being lazy

[Pontios]

I share some of those although I like being around people, just not too many people where it's very loud.

[The Alchemist]

I'd prefer dieng than being introverted....i've been so introverted and problematic for so long, that now i'm totally the opposite...and i like it...

[Incal]

I'm a spic. I can't be introverted.

[Jackson]

He he he, every single one pretty much.

[Kazimiera]

I can safely say that I am every single one of these. And I am totally happy being this way!

[Kazimiera]

Near the end of my last two jobs, I pretty much disliked the positions and some of the people. But I especially hated those mandatory team-building exercises that involved role-play and meetings that required active participation. Lunch was the best part of those days until I was forced to participate in that, too.

“Why are you so quiet, Teronda?”

I hate that, too, by the way. I wasn’t exactly ignoring anyone. I flashed a periodic smile and added an occasional “Oh” to indicate I was listening. But I didn’t have anything new or insightful to say to such light chitchat. All I really wanted to do was eat my pepperoni pizza slices in silence so I could regain enough mental energy to make it through the afternoon without a panic attack.

I’m just wired like that. I’m an introvert and I’m not here for small talk.

Really.

My words are deliberate and rehearsed. Small talk is too impromptu but deep conversations are greatly appreciated.

Between one-third to one-half of Americans are introverts but many of us pretend to be extroverts in an attempt to escape the anti-social, depressed, mute, standoffish, inhuman, flawed, moody, mad and indifferent labels. Unfortunately we’re not actresses who can remain in character for 10-hour days. Suppressing our introversion is a second job and eventually it seeps out like a soon-to-erupt volcano. Sitting amidst nonstop noise one minute too long can be mentally exhausting, overstimulating and possibly detrimental to extroverts if they continue to push us.

I rolled my eyes every time I spotted a team of colleagues prancing toward my desk with their notebooks of three-part questions and you-are-gonna-help-me-now attitudes on figures I didn’t even calculate. Things got real, real quick when my coworkers hovered over my shoulder watching me open files and touching my computer screen launching into another series of probing questions.

I had an immediate answer alright: Back the hell up because you’ve just invaded my personal space. Better yet, open the files at your own desks, type your questions and e-mail me. I’m fluent in passive communication and writing anyway.

We’re reserved, soft-spoken, innovative thinkers who refuel and thrive in solitude within quiet environments like closed offices or our homes. In these spaces we pen our novels, compose our music and paint masterpieces. Low-walled cubicles, open work spaces and even nightclubs are to an introvert what tight elevators are to a claustrophobic. Or what solitary confinement is to an extrovert.

I recuperated from the daily firing squads immediately after work in my car with no music and again in my apartment with novels, magazines, logic problems, crossword puzzles, naps and/or a lightly-scented candle. More than likely if we’re an introvert, we’re a nerd, too.

I wore an invisible “Do Not Disturb” sign. Don’t wave at me. Don’t honk your horn. In fact, don’t even look at me because I won’t see you. Don’t knock on my door. And don’t call me, either.

My phone still rang for evening chatter before I even had a chance to recharge, though. “Why don’t you ever answer your phone?” most asked. Because I couldn’t eat my pizza in peace like I needed. But I never bothered to explain in detail any deliberate send-to-voicemails because that led to hurt feelings and confrontation. And I’m not here for that, either.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m rather friendly. I laugh and joke daily, throw cocktail parties periodically and plan weekend outings. (All within spaces I can somewhat control, it seems.) And when my friends need me, I perform cartwheels followed by full splits to show my support.

I’m also down for being social publicly. I do love to go out and eat and sip, watch a movie, play or comedy show or chill at a lounge or any other gathering just like an extrovert. But it’ll be short-lived like Cinderella’s presence at the ball. Please just don’t make a big fuss when introversion rolls up, taps me on the shoulder and tells me it’s time to go home.


Article at this source: http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2013/...-an-introvert/