In
my department at work we have a mix of introverts and extroverts which can make
for interesting conversations and vivid reactions to life events. Recently a
team member got married and didn’t tell anyone. When another team member found
out, a week later, there was a rainbow explosion of questions, accusations,
congratulations, more questions, incredulous expressions and open-mouthed
staring. Guess which one was which, vis-a-vis extravert vs. introvert?
The
whole scene was extremely amusing, and a vision popped into my head of how
introverts and extroverts exist and interact.
We
introverts live in our own private bubbles, meandering through space, sometimes
bumping into one another. A quick wave or head nod and we’re on our way into
the opposite direction.
The
extroverts exist in the theoretical space between our bubbles, zooming all over
with jet packs, yelling to one another, screaming with delight as they tell
each other absolutely everything they think or feel, absorbing each other’s
energy to fuel their rockets.
When
an extrovert sees an introvert bubble they can’t help themselves. They fly over
and pound on the bubble begging “Let me in, let me in, let me in, let me in,
let me in, let me in . . . .” We try to float away but our bubbles do not have
jet propulsion. We glide on a wave of peace and quiet contemplation. We try to
hide behind our books or iPads but the extrovert knows we’re home because we’re
always home.
“Let
me in let me in let me in let me in let me in let me in.”
Eventually,
through sheer force of will, the extrovert bursts the introvert bubble and the
onslaught begins.
“Oh
my God, you got married? Why didn’t you say anything? When did this happen? Why
did it happen? How did you decide? Why didn’t you say anything? Where did you
go? Is that your ring? Why didn’t you tell us? What is wrong with you? Are you
happy? Why didn’t you tell me? How long have you been planning this? Was it
your idea? Was it her idea? Why didn’t you say anything? Oh my God!”
Finally,
the extrovert will run out of steam, leaving to find another extrovert to tell
the story to so they can re-fill their jet pack. The introvert repairs his
bubble and floats away into the ether.
