Wed, Mar 08 2006

Introverts Anonymous

A tip of the Stetson goes to Michael at Orange Crate Art for his post on introverts yesterday. Michael pointed us to Caring for Your Introvert by Jonathan Rauch, which was featured on The Atlantic Monthly's web site.

Having been incredibly shy as a child, plus having tendencies to be introverted, I can identify with the need to be alone a lot. Shyness is something I learned to combat by choosing to focus on easing other people's shyness. But I later found that I am, like the actors and other people Mr. Rauch mentions, actually an introvert who confuses people by becoming very extroverted at times. I'm also the one who can only stand a crowded, happy party for a limited time until I have to excuse myself to go to the bathroom for a few minutes of down time and renewal. It was nearly impossible for me to volunteer answers in school, but I acted in plays, sang in choruses and helped choreograph and execute a modern dance routine for a physical education class. It's actually tougher for me to speak in front of ten people who love me than it is to stand before an audience of ten thousand people who don't know me at all.

I can recall being labeled as both phony and stuck-up. It's not the fault of extroverts that we folks with a heavy introvert streak do this sort of thing. It's just one of those mysteries of life that extroverts can choose to fight or choose to embrace. If they can manage the patience to put up with our kind, they will gain some very loyal, supportive friends, particularly if they can learn to stop talking once in awhile and share and enjoy a tiny bit of very beautiful silence with us.

posted at: 07:31 | category: /Miscellaneous | link to this entry