My Life as an Introvert

Hi my name is Julie, and I’m an introvert. I recently had to take a personality quiz at work, and it was no surprise that I scored a perfect score in the introvert column. If you read the list of traits for an introvert, I check every box.

You find small-talk difficult. Check.

Too much noise or stimulation leaves you distracted. Check.

Crowds drain your energy while solitude energizes you. Check. Check.

I love this article in the Huffington Post because most of it rings true for me.

It’s a misconception that being introverted is the same as being shy. I don’t necessarily think of myself as a shy person (although, some introverts are shy). I don’t mind giving speeches in front of large groups of people, but the word “networking” sends a bolt of terror through me.

I think I’m even more aware of my introversion now that I’m raising a mini-me. After school my six-year-old wants to play alone in his room and decompress for about an hour before he’s ready to tell me about his day.

I’ve learned there are some benefits of being an introvert. It has helped me spend long hours at my computer writing novels. It has provided me with a few very close relationships instead of a larger pool of acquaintances. And it has given my husband (a definite extrovert) and me a special bond. He gets me out of the house and helps me make new friends, and I ground him and help him to slow down and enjoy rest.

Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, I think you just have to learn out how to embrace it and use it to your advantage. So tell me – are you an introvert, an extrovert, or a combination of the two?