There’s a famous dunk in Mad Men in which some young dweeb in a plaid coat (I don’t know who he is, because I’d stopped watching Mad Men by this point) says to Don Draper ‘I feel bad for you’ and Don Draper devastatingly replies ‘I don’t think about you at all.’ Zing!
Love the "locked toilet with a book" part. Some people really can't understand the haven that is. I once (many, many, many years ago) had a discussion with P. on that (whom you know). She just didn't understand how you can spend that much time alone on the toilet. The resourcing of the social battery would have been a good analogy, if only I had known....
Ha! Even when I was very young my parents had a running joke that I must be researching a ratings guide to public toilets, because of the amount of time I spent in them. None of us understood that I was just trying to get away from the conversation for ten minutes.
I love this. As an introvert myself, much of what you say feels like a ‘light bulb’ moment. And a relief to understand myself more. Oh, and what a surprise, I’m a writer…x
This resonated so much with me. I did read Susan Cairn's book and I think it was the first time I understood introversion as a quality rather than a fault (or at least a neutral characteristic). I also find networking painstakingly hard. I've learnt a few techniques throughout the years but can only still sustain it for short amounts of time. But like you I like and I think I'm very good at public speaking. What you say about the being in control hit the nail in the head... That's why I don't like to socialise with strangers either but love 121s with close friends.
Love the "locked toilet with a book" part. Some people really can't understand the haven that is. I once (many, many, many years ago) had a discussion with P. on that (whom you know). She just didn't understand how you can spend that much time alone on the toilet. The resourcing of the social battery would have been a good analogy, if only I had known....
Ha! Even when I was very young my parents had a running joke that I must be researching a ratings guide to public toilets, because of the amount of time I spent in them. None of us understood that I was just trying to get away from the conversation for ten minutes.
I love this. As an introvert myself, much of what you say feels like a ‘light bulb’ moment. And a relief to understand myself more. Oh, and what a surprise, I’m a writer…x
This resonated so much with me. I did read Susan Cairn's book and I think it was the first time I understood introversion as a quality rather than a fault (or at least a neutral characteristic). I also find networking painstakingly hard. I've learnt a few techniques throughout the years but can only still sustain it for short amounts of time. But like you I like and I think I'm very good at public speaking. What you say about the being in control hit the nail in the head... That's why I don't like to socialise with strangers either but love 121s with close friends.
Quality rather than a fault is exactly right - I think it was that recognition that made it a lot easier for me.