Socially Awkward Me

I actually have no idea where exactly I intend to go with this post, but social awkwardness has always been a big part of my life, so . . .

I might not seem socially awkward online. I may even sound like an extrovert. But I am mostly definitely 100% an introvert. A socially awkard introvert.

It has been very difficult at times. I know it has caused me to miss out on some things. It made working outside of the home a daily struggle (I’m so thankful to be self-employed right now). It’s exhausting, intensely awkward, inconvenient, and just plain annoying sometimes. When I was younger, I felt like I was weird and wasn’t like normal people. That there was something wrong with me. Thank goodness for the internet and the ability to connect with so many people who are Just. Like. Me. Getting to know other introverts through written messages (which is where we feel most comfortable) has been so nice. It has helped me learn that being an introvert isn’t any more weird than being an extrovert. God made extroverts and He also made introverts. There’s nothing wrong with that.

I think what can be one of the most frustrating things for introverts is our intense desire for people to understand us. To understand that just because we’re awkward or quiet doesn’t mean we’re anti-social or don’t like you. Chances are, if we’re in a social setting, we’re standing there racking our brains for something to say that won’t come out awkwardly (which it probably will anyway). Yeah, we’re not masters of small talk or carrying a conversation. Doesn’t mean we don’t like you. Not at all. I’ve made some great friends, especially in the last year. Guess what. I still feel awkward with them sometimes. But it really helps that I know they understand me.

If you’re not an introvert, you have no idea how nice it feels when someone befriends you in spite of your awkardness.

This graph is so, so true. Most of my best friends are people who found and “adopted” me. If not for them, I’d be the one standing in a corner of any social gatherings counting down the seconds until I could leave.

I think another thing most introverts wish others would understand is that introversion is not something that can or needs to be cured. True, it’s good to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone sometimes, and though social situations can get easier, it will never be entirely comfortable for an introvert.

And that is okay. After all, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We aren’t weird. We just want people to love and understand us for who we are. So here are a few tips for taking care of those introverts in your life.

1. Talking is hard and we might get awkward, but we’re still making the effort. Don’t feel like if we’re quiet we don’t like you. (Honestly, if I didn’t like you, I probably wouldn’t be around you. Just sayin’.) Our thoughts are probably just a jumbled mess we’re trying to put into coherent words.

2. We want to be included. We might say no to something we know we can’t handle mentally, but it doesn’t mean we don’t want to be invited.

3. Be aware of your introvert friend. If we get left alone in a group setting we honestly feel a bit lost. Kind of like a child losing their parents in a crowd. Yeah, that’s basically what it feels like.

4. For goodness’ sake, DO. NOT. CALL. Yeah, don’t do it. For introverts, phones are not actually used as phones. Phones are used for texting, messaging, and other forms of written communication. Not actually talking.

5. Respect our need for a quiet “bubble” of solitude. And our need for space and the ability to do things at our own pace.

So yeah, I probably should have titled this post something like “Caring for Your Introvert” but I liked Socially Awkward Me better. It’s like Despicable Me. Oh look, a minion! :D

That was a bit long and rambling, but maybe it can help someone to know that even a very “public” person like me as an author is also very introverted and awkward. I’m not nearly so good at articulating my thoughts in conversation as I am in writing. I’ve learned to accept who I am as I’ve gotten older. And maybe it can help an extrovert to care for that special introvert in your life. Because, really, we’re kind of like puppies. We just need someone to love us unconditionally and reassure us sometimes. :D

I now drink coffee…

It’s the craziest thing. All my life, I have hated coffee. I didn’t even like the smell of it. I wanted to like coffee. Coffee is a very social thing. But I just didn’t like coffee. I was always a tea drinker. Well, tea addict is a more accurate description.

Then a book happened. And a certain Frappé Mocha.

Last year for NaNoWriMo, I started writing my first ever serious contemporary romance novel. Coffee plays a big part in this novel. My characters love coffee. They have coffee all the time. My main guy even wants to open a coffee shop. I think writing this novel somehow convinced me that I liked coffee. See, I told you it was the craziest thing. Ever since writing that novel, I have liked coffee.

And I think what was also a major tipping point was a McDonald’s Frappé Mocha. My RN brother got one on our way home from our camping trip to Lifest. I had to admit that creamy, icy drink and drizzled chocolate over whipped cream looked pretty good. He let me have a taste. Well, hello coffee! I apparently have been missing out all my life. Not that a Frappé Mocha actually tastes like more than a coffee flavored chocolate drink, but hey, it acted as a bridge.

My grandma gave me a mini coffeemaker recently. Making coffee is something I never pictured myself doing. But I do and am sipping a cup right now. A declicious Chocolate Caramel Brownie coffee by Cameron’s. So. Good.

Now, lest you think I only drink specialty coffees or “frou-frou coffee”, that’s not true. Yes, I like my coffee sweet and creamy, but I did have (and enjoyed) a mug of regular coffee at the last buckskinners rendezvous I attended. And let me tell you folks, rendezvous coffee is real coffee. Strong coffee. And, as I said, I actually enjoyed it. I was pretty proud of myself.

So, yes, I am now a coffee drinker and can enjoy going out for a social cup of coffee.

Drinking coffee after all these years actually does feel a little bit like turning to the dark side…

Hello, world!

And, because I just can’t help myself… (IT’S BABY GROOT, Y’ALL. ‘Nuff said.)

Ehem, hey, everybody! Chances are, if you’re reading this first post within the first few days of its posting, you know me already. If not, you can check out my About Me page. Or, even if you do know me, you can check it out anyway. It sort of explains why I started this blog. Basically, I wanted to start blogging about life stuff and not just writing stuff. So here I am.

I feel I should give fair warning. I like gifs. A lot. Like, I may tend to overuse them. But who doesn’t love gifs? And memes. They make everything better. If this first post is any indication, I’ll be using them a lot.

I can’t say how often I’ll post here. After all, it’s about life, and life has a way of stealing time for such things as blogging. But I knew if I didn’t at least start this blog, it would forever sit in loneliness with no posts and no followers. So there you go. If you have any interest in getting a peek into what life is actually like for a nerdy, cat obsessed, single, country girl who masquerades as an author who knows what she’s doing and is in love with fictional characters, then you’ve come to the right place. :)