Tuesday, April 17, 2012

how to be an introvert & a social butterfly

In the past few days, I've shared a low-key Sunday night of eating out with the roommates and an entire weekend of adult "summer" fun... so I'm sure you'd be surprised if I were to tell you that I am most definitely an introvert. I am.
I like being alone, and often. I prefer to work on my own, clean when nobody's home, exercise solo, and go grocery shopping by myself. I sometimes cancel plans just so that I can go home to spend time in my room. It's just that I also value my friendships, and being that I've formed them under varying circumstances, I must be willing to maintain them all. That's not to say that I don't enjoy making the effort though! I do miss the ridiculously active social schedule of my college days.
I'm a study of contrasts, I suppose--a unique combination of calm self-sufficiency and charismatic wit (which may or may not have everything to do with my astrological sign)--and I believe it's important to recognize that.
Just because I crave more "me time" than most and hardly ever gain energy from others, doesn't mean I can't enjoy friend dates, birthday parties, and mingling with new faces. I only need to recharge enough in between. What about you? Do you consider yourself an extrovert or introvert? How does it effect your social life?

8 comments:

  1. I'm definitely an introvert, and I wonder, are a lot of other bloggers introverts, too? I love going out and seeing my friends, meeting up for coffee and going to a gallery together, but I really prefer to do my own thing 70% of the time. it keeps me sane, happy, and balanced enough so that I get the most out of my socializing. it's a struggle when other people don't understand that, such as roommates who don't get it when you don't just hang out all night every night. it's not that I don't like people, it's just that I do better with plenty of me time!

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  2. lookthroughmyspecs: I'd assume so :) and yes, it's tough that people don't get it. It even took my family a while as my mom, brother, and sister practically need to be around people 24/7 and thus are obviously on the opposite side of the spectrum. Thank God they've caught on at this point!

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  3. I completely understand what you mean about being both an introvert and a social butterfly! While I love being with people and completely value my friendships, I cannot take being with people all the time. It drives me insane. There are certain times and places that I like doing things with people, but my 'me time' is non-negotiable. So nice to know that there are other people out there like that :)

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  4. Loved this post! Just goes to show that people can't be neatly categorised.

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  5. I feel you so hard on this. I am an introvert who shrivels up and dies (actually, more like gets really moody/weird) without regular social contact. I feel like the world introvert is really misunderstood- it doesn't mean you're shy or antisocial, it just means that you really value/need alone time just as much as social time.

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  6. emilialiveslife: Exactly. Don't worry, you're definitely not alone :).

    Hope Johnson: Thanks, sweetheart! You're so right.

    Anna: Ha, I think shrivels up and dies was more accurate ;) we are very misunderstood but at least we have each other!

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  7. introverts, unite! :D I'm still learning how to interact socially while keeping a balance... This weekend we are going on a road trip with another couple (so four us total) and I think it should be pretty low key and fun! However I can see me getting tired at times from all of the social stimulation...(in the car, sharing a hotel room, etc.)...and in those instances, I'll probably just text, or nap, read, take a walk, or zone out for a bit. :)

    Love you!

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  8. glidingcalm: Ha! Hope you have a great time this weekend :).

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