I like being out, alone, in places that have other people in them. I
realised the other night that that is because of my extroversion, not
despite it. I like short, reasonably meaningless, but pleasant
interactions with strangers.
For example, that evening I
had one conversation about queues, two about directions (the first one
didn't really sink in) and one about the weather (I mean seriously,
sleet and hail a week after that sunshine? Madness.).
I
understand that these interactions would have been at best dull and and
worst intimidating for many of my introverted friends, family and
acquaintances. But I really enjoy them. I like those simple sharings of
humanity. I know I make a good first impression in person, probably
partly because I know it. Talking to people usually makes us both smile and I like to think I've increased the sum total of happiness in the
world, just a fraction.
Obviously, it's not as
straightforward as 'I am an extrovert, therefore this is good'. While I
am one of the most extroverted people I know, no one is right at either
end of that scale. I also enjoy being alone in otherwise empty places,
and time inside my own head. But obviously, my reasons for that are different.
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