Comments on: Quiet

By: Christine @ 24 Carrot Kitchen

Christine @ 24 Carrot Kitchen — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:38:47 +0000

I recently read this book and loved it! It helped me to appreciate my introverted side. I do like spending time with people, but need plenty of time to think and create.

By: NaBloPoMo – Yes! | in stillness the dancing

NaBloPoMo – Yes! | in stillness the dancing — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:17:24 +0000

[...] Quiet (designmom.com) [...]

By: Before We Go... | this heart of mine

Before We Go... | this heart of mine — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:34:17 +0000

[...] for introverts! Great post, and video [...]

By: l o v e l y t h i n g s

l o v e l y t h i n g s — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:24:48 +0000

wow! I just watched and listened…ordering the book. Loved the video on sooooo many levels.

By: Jennifer O.

Jennifer O. — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:08:02 +0000

I read this book and loved it. It felt like such a validation of what I already knew about myself and how I experienced the world around me. I could clearly see the “coping mechanisms” I had come up with, and no longer felt bad about limiting the number of social things I do. Wanting to go home and be alone after s long day of being surrounded by others doesn’t make me anti-social! I wish I could make my extrovert friends read this to understand.

By: ali lanenga

ali lanenga — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 01:30:40 +0000

this made me feel more justified in being myself. speaking of awesome TED talks have you seen this one? it’s also beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

By: Carol F.

Carol F. — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 23:37:09 +0000

See my reply to you at the bottom of the thread. I would categorize myself the same way you do. Having a toddler (and at one time I had three preschoolers at once) was one of the hardest times in my life because of the lack of alone time.

By: Carol F.

Carol F. — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 23:34:07 +0000

A twist on this theme of introversion is the concept of “highly sensitive person” which is mostly composed of introverts, though there are extroverts in it like myself. I sort of “became” extroverted (probably a no-no in the book above) over time but still need recuperation/alone time like Meagen mentioned. A “highly sensitive person” (HSP) is very sensitive to details, art/music, rules, etc. It does not mean that they get offended a lot! Check here for a self test: http://www.hsperson.org. Dr. Elaine Aron makes it very clear that introversion is not the same thing as HSP, but I just think that it might be interesting for introverts to consider both characteristics.

By: amy c

amy c — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:01:32 +0000

I am so an introvert!! And my husband is too. I am comfortable and animated with my family and close friends but feel completely out of place with large groups and people I don’t know very well. I crave time alone and at this point in my life feel like I’m begging for it a lot. I like quiet and peace so motherhood has definitely been a lesson in adjusting to noise. :) The book looks so interesting and I hope to watch the video whenever I get some alone time. Haha!

By: Valerie

Valerie — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:55:43 +0000

I too am an introvert, but not nearly as much as my husband. I grew up with my 9 siblings so I think I had to learn to speak up if I ever wanted to be heard, but I also loved slipping away from my loud family and reading for hours. What I didn’t think I would struggle with is my husband’s introversion, but it took me a while during our first year of marriage to realize that he needed his alone time, as much as I needed to talk his ear off to feel like we have connected for the day. It was a learning curve, but now we’re better balanced. The only thing I still have a problem with is how my family views him, because from their extroverted perspective his extreme quietness is a problem to be fixed, and so I feel as though they don’t really know him like I do. Also, I think it is generally much harder for men to be introverts, because those traits appear less masculine to the American standard.

By: Ivonne

Ivonne — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:59:45 +0000

Great video! I find it very interesting to talk to teens about diversity and teamwork.

By: Aline

Aline — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:08:19 +0000

I’m definitely an introvert. And sometimes it’s pretty bad being one in my country. I live in Brazil and here – I don’t know exactly why… maybe because of our summer or climate – we are expect to be extrovert. And I was never one of it. I’m not good in small-talk, I don’t make friends easily, I prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying, I’m very creative – and I work with that – but I hate self-promotion and I don’t like to always talk about myself, my things, my life, my goals, my achievements. I only talk about it with family and intimate friends.
I use to suffer in school, because I was always the girl who prefers being in library than hanging on breaks or doing homeworks alone than in groups. But I had suportive parents who understand I was normal – just an introvert one. And I was always happy with my few but good friends, my lovely family, my books. Now I’m a writer and a creative person and I’m good with that! But I confess I would love to live in Europe. Probably because I identify myself with their personality better than here, in Brazil. I love here, people here are very warm and make you feel comfortable and cozy but being an introvert here isn’t so good to be accept.

By: Happy Friday! | Breakfast in Moscow

Happy Friday! | Breakfast in Moscow — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:26:30 +0000

[...] Introverts [...]

By: Roshanthi

Roshanthi — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:05:42 +0000

My husband and I both read the book. Our whole family are introverts. You can find all of us at home quietly reading in our respective corners most of the time. Its the same with conversations, we nod and listen more. The book is enlightening for young people and kids who maybe struggling to be popular (i.e heard), without compromising who they really are.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 04:50:13 +0000

I live on Mercer Island, near Seattle, WA. Susan Cain just came and spoke at our high school as a part of a parent education program that the schools on the Island support. She was great!

By: Bonnie @ the pin junkie

Bonnie @ the pin junkie — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 02:46:31 +0000

I’m definitely an introvert. Susan Cain’s book has been on my reading list for awhile. Hoping to find time to read it soon. You can see her on Ted Talks, too.

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 02:27:40 +0000

As a lawyer and a person generally comfortable speaking in public, I always assumed I was an extrovert. I talked to my husband about this Ted talk and he laughed and said that I was definitely an introvert. It was like a light coming on for me. I don’t like group work, never have. I am drained, not energized by crowds and ever since I can remember I have snuck off to be by myself almost daily. I can see now that as a mother of 2 children under 3, I can see that one of the things that is causing me stress is that I never have alone time. I will have to refocus in light of these observations.

By: Sandi

Sandi — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:34:51 +0000

I felt compelled to comment because although I am a life long extrovert, I wish I was more introverted and I am working to develop those qualities. I do really well at home, but as soon as I am with other people my natural inclination/desire to be the life of the party comes roaring to the surface. I hope I live long enough to tame that lion, because I am drawn to people who are gracefully quiet, and I long to be one of them.

By: Sandi

Sandi — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:28:20 +0000

I was once told I think too much…I was dumbfounded into silence by that observation, but later wished I had replied that perhaps the commenter didn’t think enough.

If we were to turn the tables on people who make disquieting comments, perhaps they wouldn’t be as prone to do so. :)

By: Koseli

Koseli — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:52:00 +0000

I’ve definitely heard of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences. I think we should all take that test. It’s crucial to understand where you lean on the intrapersonal scale. Knowing that about yourself can save you a lot of grief and pain.