I found it an ironic twist of fate to find a story about the book on NPR this evening, following a day of incredible noise. Working in a middle school, noise is a given. Kids are incredibly loud, and by the end of my workday, I am craving total silence.
That may not make me an introvert, but then there was this past weekend. After a stressed filled few weeks, I needed to go inward. I find that when I finally get completely overwhelmed with life, I withdraw. I can no longer deal with the noise and craziness that surrounds me.
According to Ms. Cain, that makes me an introvert. Introverts are not necessarily not shy, or avoid social situations; more often an introvert craves periods of solitude. I like my co-workers, but I need some time alone to work everyday. I also need the down time of my daily commute to re-charge before I get home and begin my second job.
The older I get, the more I embrace my true nature- introvert. There was a time that I avoided that label at all costs. Susan Cain points out that this is not unusual since extroverts and their traits have been more valued and desired since "big business" became more prevalent at the turn of the 20th Century.
I particularly love the solitude of writing. If my world becomes too chaotic and busy, I reach for my pen. I need to go inward- journaling or blogging.
The following quiz was part of the NPR article. Take the quiz and see if you are one of the "silent majority."
Quiet Quiz: Are You an Introvert or an Extrovert?
Excerpted from: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Excerpted from: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
To find out where you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Answer each question True or False, choosing the answer that applies to you more often than not.
1. ______ I prefer one-on-one conversations to group activities.
2. ______ I often prefer to express myself in writing.
3. ______ I enjoy solitude.
4. ______ I seem to care about wealth, fame, and status less than my peers.
5. ______ I dislike small talk, but I enjoy talking in depth about topics that matter to me.
6. ______ People tell me that I'm a good listener.
7. ______ I'm not a big risk-taker.
8. ______ I enjoy work that allows me to "dive in" with few interruptions.
9. ______ I like to celebrate birthdays on a small scale, with only one or two close friends or
family members.
10. ______ People describe me as "soft-spoken" or "mellow."
11. ______ I prefer not to show or discuss my work with others until it's finished.
12. ______ I dislike conflict.
13. ______ I do my best work on my own.
14. ______I tend to think before I speak.
15.______ I feel drained after being out and about, even if I've enjoyed myself.
16. ______I often let calls go through to voice-mail.
17. ______If you had to choose, I'd prefer a weekend with absolutely nothing to do to one with too many things scheduled.
18. ______ I don't enjoy multitasking.
19. ______ I can concentrate easily
20. ______ In classroom situations, I prefer lectures to seminars.
The more often you answered True, the more introverted you are. This is an informal quiz, not a scientifically validated personality test. The questions were formulated based on characteristics of introversion often accepted by contemporary researchers.
From Quiet by Susan Cain. Copyright 2012 by Susan Cain. Excerpted by permission of The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc.
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