Introverts of the World--unite!>when you feel up to it.

So, I saw this article on Facebook via my girl, Darcie, and I just had to share. Sometimes I think people around me think I don't like them--but it's not that at all. I'm just Introverted.

23 Signs You're Secretly An Introvert

"1. You find small talk incredibly cumbersome.

Introverts are notoriously small talk-phobic, as they find idle chatter to be a source of anxiety, or at least annoyance. . .“Let's clear one thing up: Introverts do not hate small talk because we dislike people," Laurie Helgoe writes in "Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength.""

Small talk is exhausting. I was never the teenager that spent hours talking to their girl friends on the phone. What is the point of expelling all that energy for a few words of "man, this weather sucks. . ."?

"7. Downtime doesn't feel unproductive to you.
One of the most fundamental characteristics of introverts is that they need time alone to recharge their batteries. Whereas an extrovert might get bored or antsy spending a day at home alone with tea and a stack of magazines, this sort of down time feels necessary and satisfying to an introvert."

This is number one for me. Unless you're introverted, you don't understand that going out does not energize us. Staying home, being quiet with a book is the only way to recharge. It doesn't mean we don't want to go out with you ever, or that we don't like you, it's just that we are out of energy and need to "plug in" for a bit. 

"8. Giving a talk in front of 500 people is less stressful than having to mingle with those people afterwards."

The mingling is the worst. Maybe because it's unknown? I can get up and speak to a room of people something that I have prepared and have had time to write out, but when it comes to standing about chatting--serious anxiety!

"10. You start to shut down after you've been active for too long.

Everything introverts do in the outside world causes them to expend energy, after which they'll need to go back and replenish their stores in a quiet environment, says Dembling. Short of a quiet place to go, many introverts will resort to zoning out."

Again--doesn't mean I don't like you--just means my energy is gone and I need some peace to recharge.

"14. You screen all your calls -- even from friends.

You may not pick up your phone even from people you like, but you’ll call them back as soon as you’re mentally prepared and have gathered the energy for the conversation."

I just need some time to mentally prepare and channel some energy and then I will be happy to chat. :)

"21. You've been told to “come out of your shell.

Many introverted children come to believe that there's something "wrong" with them if they're naturally less outspoken and assertive than their peers."

I'm still trying to learn this. That it is NOT WRONG to be introverted. It is good to push yourself and do things that are hard for you--we can't grow unless we try new things/things that scare us. But, it's okay to need time alone. It's actually good. If you can't be happy with yourself--how can you be happy with anyone else?

So, here's to the introverts of the world. When you've mentally prepared yourself, raise your cuppa and join in the movement to realize that being introverted is GREAT! Smile and hug those extroverts around us that help us try new things and allow us to "ride their fun bubble" as the article says.