About introverts...

Introverted people are often misunderstood.  I'm one of these creatures, so I know all about this.

I'm always happy, but sometimes my face is misleading.

I love people and I love knowing they're there, but often that's more than enough for me.  I don't go out of my way to socialize and in fact, I often avoid people.

But I need the socialization some, so I do have my moments when I need to be with friends and family.  When I need to actually socialize.  While this gives me a lot of enjoyment, it also wears me out mentally and physically.  Normally I need two days rest for every one day of socializing.

I'm also quiet more days than I'm outspoken.  This doesn't mean anything, other than maybe it makes me a better listener than some.  I just don't feel the need for small talk like many other people do.

Family often misunderstands and think I want to be left alone, when that's not actually the case.  Even my husband gets this wrong sometimes and we're very close.  I understand how tricky this is to get right, so I don't get upset with anyone, even when I'm sad at being left behind.

Often, being an anonymous person among many is a comfort.  I try to schedule a few days a month where I take my day's work to busy areas, like Starbucks, Panera, or Barnes and Noble.  Oddly it helps me be more comfortable introducing myself to new people.

Baristas and managers, of course, are ones I talk to a lot.  I used to manage a coffee shop and I will own one in the future.  I've worked alongside other writers and artists, a cartoonists, software specialist, students, and more.

Introverts like people.  We just suffer social stress.

This is me in Real Life.

I think this is why Myst attracted me to playing games online.  I could choose to play by myself or play with friends.  I could play in Ages occupied by other players, where I could see people and know I wasn't really alone, or I could choose a private instance.

The cool thing is that I also found my first virtual family that way.  Real people with real problems coming together inside a game to develop mental stability in dealing with life's challenges.  This has initiated a book in process with a character going through this.  I've heard of a few others with their own version of a similar idea.

My Second Life is much the same.  But more purpose driven.  We get to do more in Second Life so often I'm in doing "chores" or building.  And when I'm price shopping breedables, it's the same.  Often chat is closed and radar is ignored.  Guess I'm perceived as rude sometimes.

Sometimes I go in and sit, listening to the radio station or environment while working in Real Life.  So AFK a whole lot.  Guess that can be rude too.

Don't meant to be.  It's just who I am.

I love my friends, but there's not as many for me as there are for others.  I'm more sociable with them...or maybe I'm just a pest more often than not.  haha