10 Myths About Introverts is interesting and even I learned things from it. I’ve always thought that I don’t really fit in either category – introvert or extrovert. I often think I have way too many “why doesn’t anyone ever pay attention to me?” moments to be a true introvert and I like hanging out with other people (Well… some people) but I do need my alone time. If I don’t regularly spend time alone with my own thoughts I tend to get mean and snappy.

I can even handle small talk. What I have the hardest time with is listening to people talk about their problems. It’s not that I’m not sympathetic. (Well, it depends) It would be different if they were asking for my advice but no one ever wants my advice and most people would be offended if gave it to them so when someone is going on and on and on about their problems I’m usually thinking, “Why do I have to listen to this sh__? Why can’t we talk about something interesting?” (And yet, I don’t really know how to steer a conversation in the direction I want it to go.) I would literally rather watch grass grow than to listen to someone whine about their boss or their aching back or the price of groceries or (Number One Hated Topic) female problems. (And you know when I say “literally” that’s what I mean.)

But, you know, sometimes it’s not so much a topic as an attitude or a conversational style. I could listen to my son complain about his in-laws all day because he’s funny and he’s not all “this is so awful my life sucks” about it. And, as a matter of fact, he doesn’t talk about the same thing all day. We have some really interesting and fun conversations sometimes. I could write an entire post just about that.

Anyway, back to the myths about introverts. Number 3 is a good point and partly true about me. As I said I can handle small talk and I have no problem with social pleasantries but I get impatient when someone obviously has a point to make or information to covey and they take too long getting around to it. If you really have something to say just skip the preliminaries and come right out with it. I guess, unlike most people, I’m a business first kind of person. Get the real point out of the way first then we can do the small talk.

Number 6 is not entirely true of me. I don’t only want to talk to one person at a time. Although the one-on-one conversations often are the most interesting, I also enjoy fun group conversations with people who are pleasant and have good attitudes. Like my in-laws, for example. My husband’s brothers and sisters and their families are the most fun people in the world to hang out with and I never get tired of being around them.

Myth #9 “Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.” Yeah, I hate that one. Quiet time, whether alone or with someone else, is relaxing and fun. I do like going out so this is another way in which I’m not sure I’m really an introvert but I hate when someone tries to get me to “loosen up and have fun.” That actually hasn’t happened in a long time. I suppose after you get to a certain age people give up on you and decide you’re just dull and won’t change but I do wish everyone would understand that sometimes just being quiet and thinking is fun.

Finally, #10. Absolutely! Why would I want to “fix myself”? I’m fine; it’s you extroverts who need “fixing”. (Just kidding. You guys are okay too, I guess.)

Thanks.