The author reflects on their understanding of shyness and introversion, particularly after the end of a long-term relationship at age 26. They recount how their ex-partner's extroverted nature masked their own introversion, making social situations challenging post-breakup. Through reading Susan Cain's "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" a decade later, they came to realize that while they appeared chatty in one-on-one scenarios, they found larger groups overwhelming and needed time alone to recharge, highlighting a common misconception that shyness and introversion are the same.
...by the time we parted almost half my life. This first boyfriend was gregarious, always ready for a chat... I'd never been an adult without him.
According to Cain, shyness and introversion often crossover but they aren't the same thing. Extroversion and introversion exist along a spectrum.
I had to get to 36 to learn this about myself. My chattiness one-on-one had worked as a distraction... I found bigger groups overwhelming.
My granddaughter came in to this world so vivacious that her extroversion was impossible to miss.
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