Introvert Pride

Are you a bookworm?  If you call yourself an introvert, there's a good chance you routinely devour all manner of books -- new and old, big and small. Introverts, after all: Tend to have an insatiable appetite for knowledge  Are big on solitary activities like reading  Turn to books for an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life  Imagine this: Back in the 18th and early 19th centuries, books could only be afforded by the elite.  That's right.  Only well-heeled property owners (and unfortunately, "property" often encompassed slaves as well) like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had the means to amass these pricey tomes. In fact, they boasted whopping collections than ran in the thousands!  Back then, people of modest means would have killed to live in a time where books are as affordable and easily accessible as they are now. (Amazon Prime, anyone?) Yet, people take this convenience for granted.  On average, people read maybe a hand...

You may recall the Me Too protests that have swept across the globe over the last few years, with hundreds (if not thousands) marching in support of victims of sexual assault and harassment.  What I often wonder is if introverts the world over will one day organize similar protests to bring awareness to their being marginalized in  society.  Surely, it's not in our nature to draw attention to ourselves in this fashion. Large crowds? Fiery speeches? Exposure on TV and social media? Sounds like an entrovert's dream.  But when it concerns a cause about which introverts are avidly passionate, we do have what it takes to come out of our shells and demand to be heard.  Introverts can, in some ways, sympathize with those the Me Too movement is attempting to give a voice to.  In fact, abuse comes in many forms, and many introverts have been subjected to harsh criticism -- if not flat-out bullying -- just for keeping to themselves and showing reluctance to participa...

Call any introvert words like "nerd" or "geek" and you're bound to get a surprising response -- that is, if you intended to come off as insulting.  Indeed, we are likely to reply with a zealous "thanks!" But why would introverts like me not take offense to being labeled a nerd?  After all, in pop culture -- namely sitcoms like Saved by the Bell and Family Matters -- nerds are portrayed as losers who spend all their time studying and who couldn't land a date to save their lives.  It's because we recognize that our intellectual inclinations -- devouring books, writing prolifically, consuming educational films and documentaries, virtually living at museums -- makes us unique. We can't help but to seek intellectual stimulation any way we can. Our curious minds demand it; if not, we get bored and lose total focus.  That's not to say the average person doesn't do these things every now and then. But most introverts make a pastime -- a way...

Introverts are, by their very nature, highly pensive. This, as introverts know all too well, can be a double-edged sword. Living in our thoughts can be a great thing if all is going great in our lives, but if we find ourselves harping on unfavorable past or future events, it can do a number on our psyche.  In this post, I'd like to focus on one particular way introverts can wield their introspective nature for the betterment of their and others' lives. Truthfully, this tip can apply to and bear fruit for just about anyone -- not just introverts. But since introverts have such active minds, they should have an easier time getting "in the zone" than those who don't exactly call themselves deep thinkers.  Gratitude had been proven to boost happiness in those who practice it regularly. Those who take a few minutes out of their busy day to notice and reflect on the things and people they're thankful for experience more positive emotions. In fact, studies show that ...

If you were to ask most people at my company whether they'd want to retain the ability to work from home post-pandemic, they would give you an unequivocal "yes." And that includes extroverts whom, though they miss the in-person interactions characteristic of a traditional workplace setting, recognize the perks of working remotely, like working in one's pajamas, saving on gas, being able to get out of bed and walk right to work, and in some cases even spending more time with family. It's plain to see why introverts would be the biggest (maybe not the loudest, but definitely biggest) supporters of this kind of arrangement: We can leverage our preference for communicating in writing (via email, Teams, IM, etc.) -- which affords us the opportunity to think through what we want to say --without feeling as much pressure to be "quick" on our feet. It's nice not to have to attend lengthy in-person meetings where nothing gets resolved. Phone/Teams meetings ca...

When my wife and I a few years ago set out to buy a home, we essentially had a few options: Continue renting until the perfect property pops up Buy a condo  Buy a townhouse/single family home (SFH)  We both agreed we'd rather build our own equity than help a landlord improve his, so that eliminating renting as an option. In the end, we opted for a condo for these reasons: With an association that handles all external maintenance, there's far less upkeep required than in a SFH Less upkeep translates into more time for the things we enjoy doing, like reading, writing, and watching documentaries Far less expensive than a SFH (mortgage, property taxes, etc.) Less space means less to clean and fix Less space means less stuff piled up and accumulating dust   Perks like security and water are worked into the HOA fee Here are a few personal reasons why a condo was right for me: Having lived in a two-story duplex through early adulthood, I like having a view from an upper flo...

Do you occasionally question whether you, as an introvert, are good enough? It can be difficult not to doubt ourselves when we have so many people doubting us.  I'm here to give you an emphatic "yes!" You are good enough. In fact, you're better than those who can't grapple with your being different than the rest of the group.  The world might try to convince you otherwise -- that you need fixing, that you're awkward, that you need to get over your supposed hatred of people.  But there's no rule that says extroverts are better, smarter, or more capable than introverts. There's no law that says extroversion is right and introversion is wrong.  Society -- and that includes everything from corporate culture to competitive events -- have shown a clear preference for those who are outwardly energetic and talkative.  It's really a shame, though, because they're missing out on all the gifts that introverts bring to the table -- from their eye for creat...

It isn't easy for introverts to thrive in a world that is constantly trying to get them to change --to become more outgoing, to turn more extroverted.  Take it from me, an introvert who has heard the "you're too quiet line" more times than I can count. Lucky for us, there are others who understand our plight because they've been there themselves.  In order to thrive, we introverts should aim to be around people who accept us for who they are.  But we have to accept ourselves first! The worst thing we can do is cave in to pressure to shed our introversion just to fit in with the crowd. It is tantamount to living a lie, one that is sure to deliver no shortage of discontent over the course of our lives. Now, it's impossible to rid ourselves of all those who take exception to our introverted ways.  Your boss may get on your case for not being outspoken enough, but that doesn't mean you should resign the next day. Nor should you, in one fell swoop, dump every f...

Being in quarantine has been a boon for many an introvert. Not only are we not forced to interact with difficult people face-to-face, but less time spent in traffic means more time to indulge our solitary interests, like writing. I'd like to think that introverts will be viewed in a far more favorable light post-pandemic, with others gaining a newfound appreciation for solitude and staying in.  Do I anticipate that this will actually come to fruition?  Nope. I predict that our extrovert-centric society will push rather fiercely to revert back to the way things were.  Many people will expect others to be elated at the thought of again being able to attend sold-out concerts and dine at jam-packed restaurants. And if you show the slightest indication that you'll actually miss being cooped up at home with your book and cat, you'll be subject to no shortage of incredulous looks from a public that feels newly liberated.   That's not to say that, once vaccines are read...