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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

I do Like People

Being an introvert is a strange thing. There are many aspects that come with this peculiar emotion type, and often times those aspects completely oppose one another. We don't always make sense and are often misunderstood; even by other introverts. We have a very hard time explaining ourselves and give off the impression that we are running away when, in fact, we are trying our best to do what is healthy for us. We don't always make the right decisions but are often ridiculed when we do. So I am making this post for two reasons:

1) I hope I can explain just a little of what it is like to be an introvert.

2) To get some of the feelings that I have off my chest.

I may make this into a continuing post, but we will see. :)

I want to touch on the misconception that introverts "Don't like people" or are hermits that don't want to have any social interaction. This just is not true. Indeed, to the extrovert (Or as I like to call them, "Normal" people.) we may seem like just that. However, it is much more complicated.

Most of the introverts that I have met (Including myself) actually love people! We have a deep and abiding love for those we come in contact with and honestly and truly wish to see the best for them. While we usually only have a select group of friends that we want to hang out with, we still do, overall, care about humanity and people in general. This being said it does not mean we like being around those people.

This is where normal people get confused...

That same group of friends that we hold dear to our hearts and love to be around may come to find out that it is STILL hard to get together with us because we just want to be alone or have already made plans that day and having to be around people more than once is just too much for us. Other people just don't get that. You see, whether you are an extrovert or introvert, it has nothing to do with the people itself. It is all about where you get your energy from.

I am an introvert. My wife is an extrovert. (Yes, it gets very hard and confusing sometimes.) Sometimes we go to social functions. Whether it be around a small group or large group of people it doesn't matter. I will still get drained and be exhausted when we get home. My wife, however, will be filled with joy and want to keep talking and have the energy to spare. Sometimes, when I am having a bad day, my wife is kind enough to take the kids out for an hour or two and leave me by myself. When she comes home I often feel much better and have the energy to keep going. I love my family dearly and I don't go to functions that I am not interested in or want to support the people. So it seems like my moods and actions are contradicting how I feel, but in truth, it is not.

This is the fundamental difference. It has nothing to do with whether or not you like the people you interact with that makes you an introvert. It's where you get your energy from. Do people give you energy or drain it?

I don't like to make my posts too long so I will leave the next point for my next post.

Tootles
-R

2 comments:

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  2. I really enjoyed reading this. It made me think of April and Elton. While you and Hannah are not exactly like April and Elton there were similarities in what I read that I think April would find interesting. She would like this.

    Anyways, I love all 4 of you!

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