Introvert or Extrovert

Yesterday at lunch Michelle and I were having a conversation about being either an introvert or an extrovert.  It seems that each one of us has been both at one time or another, over the course of our lives.  As a child she was not an introvert, but as adult, has definitely gone that direction.  On the scale toward introvert, she would probably be at least at 90%.

Early in my life I was an extrovert;  then I had a long phase when I was much more introverted.  Toward the end of my ministry, I felt as if I were so introverted that it was quite difficult to always be "on" in the required interactions of my position.  

At this point, in retirement, the pendulum seems to have swung back.  I am much more of an extrovert now.  I do believe that both personality and life circumstances contribute to that.  One is born with the one and not with the other.

Michelle told me about a new term I had not heard:  ambivert!    That term, of course, describes a person who would be right in the middle at 50% both.   I think that must be what I am.  Sometimes I fall off the vert fence onto the intro side;  other times, onto the extro side.

And while I am much more inclined to be an extrovert these days,  I will confess that that has a time limit. Three or four hours of being engaged in a one on one conversational situation is about my max.  Then I need a solitude break.  I can handle five or six hours in a group setting,  but then I need a nap!

If that is what an ambivert would be like, then that's what I am.

Of course, no one label can ever describe a person completely, which is an important thing to remember!