Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Introvert Advantage

This book was recommended to me by a friend who's got an introverted daughter-in-law. I'm reading it and I'm amening (if that's even a word) each and every page. Who knew I'm not some sort of freak for preferring books over people?

Some of us need action to "re-charge our batteries". Being with people, hunting for parties, flitting around to different places and visiting all sorts of folks. Others of us need to re-charge after being with people. We go home, curl up on the couch with a good book (or a computer) and just relax. We're more inwardly focused. Not self-centered, but introspective.

I write this because I've been thought of as stuck up, sick, anti-social. I'm hoping that more people will come to the understanding that some of us (25% of the population, according to this author) are hard-wired differently. We don't hate people, we are just overwhelmed by them on occasion. I always wondered why my sisters could go around with a gaggle of friends and I could barely stand to hang around with one or two. I'm supposed to be the big sister, the confident one, right? In every place we've lived, I've had one, or at the most two good friends. I just can't take more than that. I can manage small talk for a minute or two and then I've got to escape.

Does this sound whiny? I hope not. I wish I would print little quotes from the book out and paste them all over myself so folks can understand. She's not rude, she's an introvert!

It's not me, guys, it's genes! Blame my parents!

9 comments:

Suldog said...

Sounds like an interesting read. As much as I like being on-stage, and writing for public consumption, I much prefer quiet evenings and isolation, most of the time. I'll have to check it out.

Anonymous said...

So very, very true!

Woman in a Window said...

You always have such a refreshing punch of wit about you. And for an introvert too? Who woulda known?

(I'm one too, you know. An introvert. Not so much on the wit.)

Tillybud said...

A very interesting post. I'd like to read that book. I can totally relate to the idea of re-charging when I've had too much social activity.

Barry said...

As one introvert to another, we're glad to have you in our exclusive little club.

Now don't talk to me, I'm reading. :)

Janet said...

There's a reason I live on 32 acres with no visible neighbors and a gate at the bottom of the driveway.
I need that book.
What's really fun is when you have one extravert child who wants to go everywhere, and one intravert child who, like you, wants to just stay home, but has to be dragged all over creation so the extraverted child doesn't become a psychopath.

Marian Dean said...

I have learnt something today. Why my husband and I are so incompatible. He loves chatting to all and anybody and I have nothing to say and want to stay home. Simple as that Eh? So I am NOT an oddball.

Anonymous said...

What do you think it was like - an extrovert (sometimes introvert) husband, and 3 extrovert kids and you and me? I identify with you hon! And now you probably understand Uncle John too don't you? Ha!

Unknown said...

I could not agree more. The times when required to be "social" in a social setting, it's difficult. Conversations don't come easy to me. I'd rather just listen....for a few minutes, then I'm ready to go home, hehe.