Introvert challenges

This past week was whirlwind of challenges and emotions for me.  It started out with a confrontational situation last Sunday that had to do with work that left me feeling exhausted.  Through work, we had to deal with another department where something got messed up and I had to deal with it.  On my day off, I had to go into their building, deal with someone at the service desk (who didn't introduce herself, nor was she wearing her name tag) and I called her on her attitude when dealing with me.  On Monday, I got a call from her direct supervisor to find out what happened.  I filled her in and within 30 minutes, I had an apology email from the employee I had to deal with in person.  Did that email completely rectify things?  No.  But I was glad that I was able to bring the situation to light and hopefully keep something similar from happening to someone else.

I had another situation come up at work where I stood up for myself in a conversation with my boss.  I wasn't completing a particular task to her timetable (even though it was going to be completed before it was needed) and when she asked me about it, she asked me (in what I felt was a condescending tone) what she could personally remove from my plate in order to get this task accomplished.  I definitely don't like to be talked down to nor do I like it being made to seem as if I'm not going to complete a task by the deadline - so I called her on it.

Most people wouldn't see either of these interactions as particularly overwhelming or exhausting but as an introvert (and someone who is very introverted), I find situations such as this very taxing.  I realize that not everyone understands how I can be introverted when I'm a belly dancer and I wear wild/colorful/patterned clothing and have colored/crazy hair, but how I feel inside and how people closest to me know me, I am an introvert.  I came across an online group this week for introverts and I joined it - it's nice to know that there are people out there who feel like I do, who "get" me, and yet I'll never have to interact in person with them!  There is a comfort in that fact.  There is also a comfort in realizing how many of my immediate family are also introverts or have introvert tendencies.

This past week, I also had to complete some pre-coursework for a conference/training I'm headed to next week and it left me feeling pretty low.  I am taking a course at this upcoming conference/training which allows managers to see what their personality type is and how they can/can't work with other personality types.  In the pre-coursework, we were supposed to answer questions based on how we see ourselves as a manager and to not overthink the questions/answers but to answer honestly about ourselves.  Naturally, I overthought the questions/answers and at the end of the 25 questions (each question had four parts to it), I felt as if I must come across to people as a cold-hearted robot/witch and that I would rather take over projects because I am a control freak.  I'm not a control freak but I am a major perfectionist and I would rather just do a task/project myself vs. entrusting someone else to do it -- maybe that does make me a control freak, I don't know...

One of the great things I got to do happened today - one of my all time favorite movies was playing at the movie theatre and I took the entire afternoon to go and watch/enjoy it.  I love the movie "Gone With the Wind" and even though I spent most of my day on it, I think it was just how I needed to spend my time.  I don't always take the opportunities to do things for me and even though I had a dance performance Friday after work and another one that took most of my day yesterday (spent almost 5 hours driving to and from the location for 15 minutes on stage) but when I found out that "Gone With the Wind" would be playing, even on this busy weekend, I knew that I wanted to take the time for me to enjoy it.  I think some of the reasons I enjoy it so much is I can relate to Scarlett, have a Mom who embraces Mammy at times, was married to a man like Ashley (even though I need someone like Rhett) and I draw strength from being around family/home.

Well, my dear readers, I have quite a bit to accomplish at work in this upcoming week as I will be out of the building all next week for travel, so I should probably bring this to a close in order to prepare for the week ahead.  I know it is also going to be hectic as I am short staffed and the kids go back to school this week which always adds a different dimension to how they act (but after 8 weeks of summer programming, the staff and myself are SO ready for the kids to go back to school!).  I hope you embrace opportunities for you this week and thank you for joining me along my journey!  =)