Introverts N Business

I have never really had a full social calendar. When I was younger I did whatever I could to set up weekend plans in order to combat feelings that there was something socially unattractive about me.  These days I don’t think much about it, but this morning when  friend called to reschedule our Friday afternoon date and we agreed on Sunday, I noticed that once again my weekend schedule is wide open. Up, for a moment, came that old funny feeling, this time wrapped in the words, “I wonder what she thinks of me.”

Granted, my husband and I are still relatively new to Virginia, with the 2 year anniversary of our arrival coming up in just a few days. We do now have a nice small group of friends.  So, yes, it’s still a bit quiet in our life on the weekend. However, when I look back at the past 10 years, even when we had a more robust personal network, our weekends were often wide open.

Though there have been times when I wish there were more invitations or more people to invite, I like having an open schedule. It allows me to say yes to spontaneous invitations and it allows me to craft my weekend activities according to my energy and interests on those days. So, though periodically embarrassed about my minimalist social life, I do like the freedom it gives me.

I’m not even a terribly busy person in my work life either. And, I have to tell you, just writing that sentence brought up a chuckle of embarrassment – AM I REALLY GOING TO ADMIT THAT? Yes, I am.  This is not something I broadcast – until now of course – because there, too, it’s not the way of the world. Busy is a badge worn frequently and with normalcy. To choose work and a “workstyle” that does not push one’s capacity to the limits is strange. It can even be embarrassing.

So, taking my moments of embarrassment by the hand, I embrace my not-too-busy life and invite others who enjoy a lot of quiet time to speak up and say so. Is it possible to start a quiet revolution? Do those 2 words even go together?