I don't know if this is just me, but I never really feel the need to keep in touch with people. And I don't mean that in a bad way, but just like... say, from high school, for example. Or even college, for that matter. I mean, they were nice people. I enjoyed them while I was there. But then I moved on and never really looked back. I'm just not sure if that's a bad thing or a good thing.
Usually I don't really think about stuff like this, but then I'll run across someone who still hangs out with their high school buddies or who has get-togethers with people they knew 20 years ago, and it makes me wonder if they're odd or if I'm the odd one for it never having occurred to me to do the same thing.
Granted, I'm an introverted introvert, so perhaps that has a lot to do with it. I've also moved over 20 times in my short life, so maybe moving on and not looking back is in my blood.
Facebook has added an odd layer to this puzzle in recent years, as I've been able to artificially keep in touch with people that I don't live near anymore. It's actually funny how sometimes I can finally get to know the introverted people better online once we aren't in a social situation together, and sometimes the extroverted people I remember better I discover that I wasn't actually that close with in the first place.
It's not even really that I want to keep in close contact with everyone I've ever met. That would definitely wear this little introvert out. But I sometimes wonder if I should by trying harder than I'm naturally inclined to do. Or maybe they've all moved on too and keeping in touch doesn't matter as much as I sometimes think it should.
It's also possible I'm paying too much attention to what American society says I should value. From what I can tell, extroverted tendencies are generally praised much more than introverted ones are. Sad, but true. Some of the best artists, writers, and thinkers are introverts though, so people should take note!
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What about you? Do you keep in touch with people you knew 20 years ago? Why or why not? Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert, in general?
Usually I don't really think about stuff like this, but then I'll run across someone who still hangs out with their high school buddies or who has get-togethers with people they knew 20 years ago, and it makes me wonder if they're odd or if I'm the odd one for it never having occurred to me to do the same thing.
Granted, I'm an introverted introvert, so perhaps that has a lot to do with it. I've also moved over 20 times in my short life, so maybe moving on and not looking back is in my blood.
Facebook has added an odd layer to this puzzle in recent years, as I've been able to artificially keep in touch with people that I don't live near anymore. It's actually funny how sometimes I can finally get to know the introverted people better online once we aren't in a social situation together, and sometimes the extroverted people I remember better I discover that I wasn't actually that close with in the first place.
It's not even really that I want to keep in close contact with everyone I've ever met. That would definitely wear this little introvert out. But I sometimes wonder if I should by trying harder than I'm naturally inclined to do. Or maybe they've all moved on too and keeping in touch doesn't matter as much as I sometimes think it should.
It's also possible I'm paying too much attention to what American society says I should value. From what I can tell, extroverted tendencies are generally praised much more than introverted ones are. Sad, but true. Some of the best artists, writers, and thinkers are introverts though, so people should take note!
****************
What about you? Do you keep in touch with people you knew 20 years ago? Why or why not? Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert, in general?
I'm super introverted as well, and I keep in touch with a select few people that I've been friends with for a long time. There are others on my Facebook friends list that I was acquainted with in school, and we interact from time to time, but we're not especially close.
ReplyDeleteI don't worry too much about keeping in touch with people. My best friends and I can pick up like we just saw each other yesterday, and they're also the same people I'll still be friends with when we're wheeling around the old folks home.
When I was younger, I had a really difficult time making close friends. I was very distrustful and closed off so most of the friends that I had in school were acquaintances rather than true friends. I'm Facebook friends with most of my past acquaintances, but there are very few that I'd call up and say, "Hey, let's hang out!" if I happened to be in town.
ReplyDelete