"Aren't you shy?" are the words that ring through my head when I think about my childhood. "Why is your face so red?" is another one, as I blushed whenever picked out of a crowd. From the get-go, I was shy and quiet. Throughout my entire life, I have gained energy from time to myself more than I have from time with others. And up until this year, I still thought that was wrong.
Turns out, it's a personality trait. I'm an introvert.
While I very, very much enjoy being around my family and friends, it can be also quite draining when it's for long periods of time. I realize now that's why I make an effort to get up before the kids do- I literally need that hour to start my day off quietly, and on the right foot. It helps me focus and zero in on what I need to accomplish.
There was a time when I really didn't want to be this way. I wanted to be someone who craved people around her all the time, who wanted the excitement of new places and different experiences 24/7.
I am so not that person.
So I'm going to embrace this, my introversion. I like routine, order and consistency. "But you have children," an onlooker might protest. We follow a rough schedule every day. Kids like to know what comes next. I've always tried to provide consistency by being home for afternoon naps, and setting regular mealtimes and bedtimes. It works for us.
Now that I've fully realized that I'm an introvert, and that it's not a bad thing (thanks, society), the negative feelings I harbor when I don't get enough time to myself make a lot of sense. Introverts, we need that time. As much as extroverts need other people and places, we need space.
And that's okay. It's how I'm wired. I'm starting to see why they say your 30's are the decade you really get to know yourself. With this revelation in hand, I can make sure I get the space I need, not just want.
Which are you, an introvert or an extrovert? Or do you not relate to either?
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