Tell Me Something Tuesday was hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings, but she has (temporarily?) stopped blogging. So a group of us that had been doing posts (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Karen from For What It’s Worth, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About and me) decided to get together, come up with some more topics and keep the meme going.Michelle made us a logo and we’re off and running. For more details, check out this post where I reintroduced the meme.
I can be sporadic, but when I do join in I will always share next week’s topic at the end of the post. So, today is about…
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
It’s funny, when I was younger everyone had convinced me that I was an extrovert. I am sociable, but that’s not what it means to be an extrovert. An extrovert is invigorated by time spent with groups of people. They are energized by being around others and are outgoing and often outspoken. When I realized that (in my 20s), I was like, “welp, that’s not me.” But since I’d spent years being told I was an extrovert, I thought I COULDN’T be an introvert.
So I learned about this thing called ambivert. Basically you carry the traits of an extrovert and and introvert fairly equally. And I spent most my 20s and early 30s thinking this was me.
And maybe it was, but I think now that I’m 36 (almost 37), I’m just being more real with myself when I say I am ABSOLUTELY an introvert. I think I used to think that meant you were socially awkward an unable to be sociable. That’s not it at at all. I just don’t want to be and it drains me if I don’t get alone time. I often commit to social things and then when it’s time I have to force myself to follow through. And even if I end up enjoying myself (which I often do), I am also really exhausted from it.
So yeah, that’s my very long way of saying I’m an introvert lol 🙂
I do not feel 100% Intro, and absolutely not 100% extro. I am more like 50% intro and 50% ambivert 😉
I’m an introvert too. I’m completely capable of socializing and even enjoying it… and then I’m absolutely wiped out and want to crawl into a book for several hours afterward. I took the Myers-Briggs test in high school and it said I was (barely) an extravert, but that was a time in my life when I was consciously trying to fit in and be accepted, which meant… learning to socialize. Now I test firmly on the introvert side.
I’m definitely an introvert. My husband and I are so opposite. He loves to socialize on the weekends and we’ve been doing that quite often that I actually had to tell him “ok, I need a weekend where we don’t see people”. It’s so draining for me lol
I’m definitely an ambivert. I am comfortable around others and enjoy time out. But I love being home with my family and spending time by myself.
I am definitely an introvert. Always have been. I have only a few friends, and I like it that way. I can definitely be outgoing and social with those few people, but I really value my alone time, and I really dislike being around crowds of people. Like you, I also force myself to follow through after making social plans. But I try for my 9-year-old daughter, who is most likely an extrovert and LOVES to be around people.
I’m an introvert too. As a kid people kept forcing me into social situations because I “would have fun once i got out there”. I never did and as an adult I love that I can choose my own way. It’s SO draining for me!
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Introvert for sure. I hate going out and being around people. But I don’t mind social interactions online.
I have always been confused about what I really am because I grew up shy and struggled to be around a group of people, but as an adult I taught myself to be sociable and work well in a group. The definition you found helps clarify. Guess I’m an introvert, too. 🙂
“I am sociable, but that’s not what it means to be an extrovert.”
Exactly! And here I had to write a long-ish post to drive the point home LOL.
It’s funny how you made a journey from supposed extrovert to full-blown introvert.
100% introvert, forever and always. Just thinking about being social makes me want to go back to bed.
I’m more of an ambivert, to be honest.
I am a big introvert! And I’m learning to embrace it. Haha