#introvert

An introverted woman spends hours contemplating a thought or observing a pattern in her life. She turns it over in her mind until it becomes a companion to her and then decides to share it in the context of a small group. When she musters up the courage to voice it, trembling as she puts words to this precious inner stirring, someone in the group cuts her off when she pauses in the middle, her thought still building steam. This person quickly tells her she shouldn't feel the way she does or else counters with a story of her own, which only tangentially relates to what the introvert was saying. Nouwen's words perfectly capture the sense of personal violation and emptiness: "Often we come home from a sharing session with a feeling that something precious has been taken away from us or that holy ground has been trodden upon. ↗

— Adam McHugh

#courage

It's interesting to feel the pressure of having to be outgoing, because I think in general, as a human being, I'm pessimistic and introverted. But, it's cool, because it's a whole different side of me, and I impress myself. Even at times when I think that there's no possible way that I can be engaging, I'll suddenly pull it out and impress myself. ↗

— Nate Ruess

#being #cool #different #engaging #even

The loner who looks fabulous is one of the most vulnerable loners of all. ↗

— Anneli Rufus

#artists #fashion #introverts #looks #vulnerability

...because I rant not, neither rave of what I feel, can you be so shallow as to dream that I feel nothing? ↗

— R.D. Blackmore

#dreams

Leave an extrovert alone for two minutes and he will reach for his cell phone. In contrast, after an hour or two of being socially “on,” we introverts need to turn off and recharge. My own formula is roughly two hours alone for every hour of socializing. This isn’t antisocial. It isn’t a sign of depression. It does not call for medication. For introverts, to be alone with our thoughts is as restorative as sleeping, as nourishing as eating. Our motto: “I’m okay, you’re okay—in small doses. ↗

— Jonathan Rauch

#introvert #socialism

What does an introvert do when he's left alone? He stays alone. ↗

— Jenni Ferrari-Adler

#introvert #single #cooking

Solitude matters, and for some people, it's the air they breathe ↗

— Susan Cain

#introvert

Often we come home from a sharing session with a feeling that something precious has been taken away from us or that holy ground has been trodden upon. ↗

— Henri J.M. Nouwen

#sharing #small-groups #introvert

All this talking, this rather liquid confessing, was something I didn't think I could ever bring myself to do. It seemed foolhardy to me, like an uncooked egg deciding to to come out of its shell: there would be a risk of spreading out too far, turning into a formless puddle. ↗

— Margaret Atwood

#introverts #introvert

I just have a hard time with small talk. My friend Jocelyn says I'm too quiet. But I'm really not quiet. I just tend to come across that way to new people because I don't like to talk first. What if the other person doesn't want to be bothered? ↗

— Lauren Barnholdt

#people #personality #introvert