Tea With Tameka

I saw a mom blogger on Instagram kinda questioning are some people rude or are they truly introverts. She provided a situation where she was at an event and met a fellow mom blogger who was kinda cold upon her greeting. How she described the interaction it was just someone being rude to me. I’m introvert have known way before I knew there was a word and definition for my feelings. The definitions of introvert all suggest characteristics of being reserved and tend to focus on oneself.  Also introversion is the state of or tendency toward being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one’s own mental life that definition is from Merriam Websters.  So nothing about being an introvert is to be rude or mean but just preferring to spend time alone.

I want to share my feelings as an introvert so for people who don’t understand or get it hopefully this will help. Going out to something that isn’t required and interacting with people can be draining. For me it doesn’t matter if it’s a group of people I know or if it’s people I don’t know I have to motivate myself self to go. A lot of times I will go to into hibernation prior to going to an event to build up my energy levels. Going out with family or to a family event is easier because I don’t feel like I have to be on and coming up with conversation. However it can still be a drain I have left family events with horrible headaches because of all the talking and laughing.  When I’m interacting with people I don’t know and want to be social I try to find something we have in common as an icebreaker then go from there.  I have held conversations with people I didn’t know at first but after finding that common subject were able to interact and it was a pleasant experience.  I do think two introverts aren’t going to get very far initially because neither probably wants to exert the energy needed to get past hello. I’m only speaking from my experience I really hate being an introvert sometimes because I know I have missed out on great experiences but the fear and anxiety overwhelm me so I just stay at home. I will say that being an introvert doesn’t allow you to be a mean and cold to other people. Here are a few tips that I use to help me.

• Arrive early you can have the host introduce you to a few people see who you click with and use that person to continue to get to know other people.
• If you can take someone with you. If the party or event allows for plus one take someone especially someone who is an extrovert to help pull you out of your shell.
• Leave if you are feeling overwhelmed it’s okay, rather than sit in the corner alone and have people wonder about you.

If you are an introvert tell me what tips you use when going out to not be so awkward? And if you aren’t an introvert what have your experiences been like dealing with introverts?

When I asked for your help, you answered my prayer and gave me courage. Psalms 138: 3 CEV