I am an introvert – seriously

The article 8 Signs You’re an Introvert notes: “It is… important to note that introversion is not the same things as social anxiety or shyness. Being an introvert does not mean that you are socially anxious or shy.”

I used to be socially anxious, but through repetition, I’ve learned not to care as much. Public gaffes I have made, which would have put me into a funk for days – or much longer – I generally deal with with self-deprecating humor.

“People who are introverted tend to be inward turning, or focused more on internal thoughts, feelings and moods rather than seeking out external stimulation.

“Unlike extroverts who gain energy from social interaction, introverts have to expend energy in social situations. After attending a party or spending time in a large group of people, introverts often feel a need to ‘recharge’ by spending a period of time alone.

“This does not mean that the average introvert wants to be alone all the time. Many introverts love spending time with friends and interacting with familiar people in social situations.”

So if I am affable at church, which I generally am, it’s because I’ve been there almost two decades, and I have developed a certain degree of comfort.

“While introverts typically do not enjoy a great deal of socializing, they do enjoy having a small group of friends to whom they are particularly close.”

Technology is wonderful in this regard. The emails I’ve spent with Catbird down south, after meeting for the first time in well over a decade have been quite meaningful. I actually have done a couple video chats with friend Deborah in France, after not seeing her for nearly three decades until 2018.

On the same recent weekend I spent 90 minutes on the telephone with one sister and two hours with Uthaclena. Old school!

“Because introverts tend to be inward-turning, they also spend a great deal of time examining their own internal experiences.” Goodness, yes.

Noted author and clear introvert John Green (no relation) did a video recently Battling Apathy and Searching for Meaning, which I related to – a lot.

“Where extroverts tend to prefer to jump right in and learn through hands-on experience, introverts typically prefer learning through observation…

“When introverts do learn from personal experience, they prefer to practice somewhere private where they can build their skills and abilities without having to perform for an audience.” Check.