Look, a butterfly!

I just stumbled across this really cute article about being an introvert, or more specifically, dealing with an introvert. A great deal of it really resonated with me. Without giving it much though, I would have considered myself an extrovert. I tend to be quite social, however, the needs and situations described in this article are spot on.

My name is Aggie, and I am an introvert.

Oh, for years I denied it. After all, I have good social skills. I am not morose or misanthropic. Usually. I am far from shy. I love long conversations that explore intimate thoughts or passionate interests….

…Introverts are not necessarily shy. Shy people are anxious or frightened or self-excoriating in social settings; introverts generally are not. Introverts are also not misanthropic…Rather, introverts are people who find other people tiring…

…We can only dream that someday, when our condition is more widely understood, when perhaps an Introverts’ Rights movement has blossomed and borne fruit, it will not be impolite to say “I’m an introvert. You are a wonderful person and I like you. But now please shush.”

And some advice for how to deal with “your introvert”.

First, recognize that it’s not a choice. It’s not a lifestyle. It’s an orientation.

Second, when you see an introvert lost in thought, don’t say “What’s the matter?” or “Are you all right?”

Third, don’t say anything else, either.