My father has recently posted a post from his personal blog and it was rather interesting, so i have decided i'm going to "borrow" his topic from his post and see what my results are...if your reading this dad...have fun! ;)
1: You find small talk incredibly cumbersome.
Yup, although i have kinda created a template, which is "hello" "how are you?" and if im socialising on the internet " wuu2" (what you up to) anything else besides that...i'm in uncharted territories...
2: You go to parties – but not to meet people.
DEFINITELY, I'm the classic introvert in those situations...don't dance, keep socialism to a minimal, find the nearest exit.
3. You often feel alone in a crowd.
Funnily enough, the first time my dad told me this sign, i said i had never felt it...and then i went out the next day to friends gig, only knowing two people, One of them being backstage waiting to perform, and the other was with me, and then needed to nip to the toilet. Those few minutes was the most longest, and loneliest feeling ever, it was frankly horrible...i stuck to my friend like glue before and after that.
4. Networking makes you feel like a phony.
I can't say that i have ever networked, *reads meaning of network* yeah...i think i'll pass thanks.
5. You've been called 'too intense'.
I don't think i have been called too intense, but i do talk in great depth and thought when talking to my father on various topics (Mainly about introversion and science fiction).
6. You're easily distracted.
What was that, i wasn't listening...yeah i have this trouble a lot, if the computer slows up or takes some time to load, their is always something i can find to do, if it's organising some papers, to watching videos.
7. Downtime doesn't feel unproductive to you.
THAT STATEMENT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME...I thrive on downtime, i don't know what i would do without a little peace and alone time for myself. I could be having a really stressful day at Sixth Form, and a moderate walk around the local area (roughly 15-20 mins) looking in a few corner shops and i could be ready for round two. I physically cannot see how extroverts thrive on people...
8. Giving a talk in front of 500 people is less stressful than having to mingle with those people afterwards.
Hmm, tough one...i have done pieces in church where i have to talk to lots of people, i got nervous about it, but with the little experience i have had, i would rather talk to 500 people and then just sit in the corner being left alone to recharge, the mingling makes me feel a little..."exposed" if that makes sense after talking about personal things or experiences.
9. When you get on the subway, you sit at the end of the bench – not in the middle.
I don't travel by subway/train, but i do travel to school and back via *shudders* buses...and i usually have a specific seat that i like to be seated near or on, and if a seat that can occupy two people becomes free i usually try and aim for that seat and leave the other seat for my bags. i don't know whether that's introvert thing or me being a selfish person...
10. You start to shut down after you've been active for too long.
I don't technically shut down immediately, i kinda start to feel the effects of being active for too long for example tiredness and deteriorating lack of concentrating. When i get really low i begin to snap at people and find it harder to "mince my words" as i can occasionally be rather blunt. I also tend to zone out more than usual if i know i am going to be socialising for long periods. Top Tip for introverts that have recently known that they are introverts, when you know you are going to be socialising for a while pace yourself, and if you see an opening when you can "recharge" take it...or if you require a quick "break" from people apologise to the person you are talking to and say you just need to get some air or your feeling a bit sick.
11. You're in a relationship with an extrovert.
...I'm single.....Moving on.....
12. You'd rather be an expert at one thing than try to do everything.
Yes, i would rather, but i kinda have a jack of all trades thing, but i would say that computer or computing is one of my stronger subjects, i would go as far as saying expert, more enthusiast....in a nutshell, i like to dabble, see if it interests me, is it useful for me and my way of life, learn or look at nothing else but that specific subject, keep it in the back of my mind, find something new. but on occasion, pick up where i left off or read up to jog my memory and learn a bit more.
13. You actively avoid any shows that might involve audience participation.
This looks nice, oh but it has audience participation, yeah....i'm out. I have been to a event when it was audience participation and it was just horrible, the end result was my friend getting their fun when i dragged them to it and i was picked out the audience to do some...rather silly dancing...i don't do silly dancing, they recorded the whole thing and posted it and tagged it to my profile on Facebook...thanks guys.
14. You screen all your calls - even from friends.
I have always looked at my phone to see who is calling me, it's become a second nature, their are just times when you cannot deal with people and you need to be alone, it's nothing personal, it's the way we work. To all my friends, your great but you require so much energy couldn't live with you, couldn't live without you.
15. You notice details that others don't.
I kinda have bad feelings that i think i have explained in previous blog posts, but it's the feeling of just something not being right, or out of place, it can be added to the gift and a curse section, as the person could be a real nice person meaning well, but the sensation at the back of your mind saying "somethings wrong, tread carefully".
16. You have a constantly running inner monologue.
Half if not all my blog posts have been creating due to monologing in my head. Most of the quotes i say are from my monologue saying them first and i'm merely repeating, but when im angry, the tone of the monologue becomes louder and more shouting at me. I think just monologing what i think in my head, has saved my butt countless times. I have also recently noticed that i have conversations to myself, coz im weird that way ;)
17. You have low blood pressure.
Really? Well you learn something new everyday...
18. You've been called an 'old soul' - since your 20s.
Prft, i have been called an old soul since i was at least 15, never fully understood why until i understood that i was an introvert. And in the end im happy with doing "old man stuff" it feels natural.
19. You don't feel 'high' from your surroundings.
Well this is a grey area for me, i have gone to events with a lively atmosphere, enjoyed it and come out pumped, but when talking about large parties, nope, nada, not a thing...
20. You look at the big picture.
Well, yeah, to a point...if the project really interests me then i sometimes enjoy digging a little bit deeper.
21. You've been told to 'come out of your shell'.
Unfortunately, more times than i can count. Their have been several people who have tried to change that was hardwired into my brain. I just hope that you will understand that my needs are different and what you might think sounds boring, might be the thing that i find the most enjoyable of the event/experience/party.
22. You’re a writer.
I'm more a closet writer if anything, to friends and family i only tell specific people about my blog and show even fewer people the books i have written (1 completed but requires editing and it's sequel in progress...slow progress). I'm rather personal with my writing, i feel as i show you my work, i show you a private part of myself.
23. You alternate between phases of work and solitude, and periods of social activity
DUH!!, It's how i survive this noisy world. When i feel as if my energy is empty or close to empty, being alone or being left alone does so many wonders, but i don't think i could survive being alone forever, even the most introverted of people require some sort of social interaction or the world would be a very lonely place.
Well that is the 23 signs of an introvert, i hope you enjoy this as much as i did (This took me over a week maybe even 2 weeks to edit, leave, come back and complete). More posts to come as this has given me some inspiration and material to post my thoughts and views about. I am also reading a introvert themed book called "The Introverts Way" by Sophia Dembling which has been a rather exciting, deep thinking book that i have been finding hard to put down, for all introverts alike, if new or known for a while. this book provides lot of tips and insight of a fellow introvert explaining her way of introverted life and how she survives this noisy world.
My friend asked me a question today...he was quite surprised with my reply, and i was surprised by his reaction to my reply. In the gist of the question, he asked if two people that have been in a relationship for a while where dating...my answer to his question was "Yes, didn't you know? or even see the signs?". He replied with agreeing that he saw the signs but didn't hear that they was in a relationship, after my friend told my other friend about his new found information, he confronted me, and i said that i overheard a conversation, and then was accused of ear-wigging in other peoples conversations. Well as typical me i took this information and decided to think about it in further detail.