Hello Everyone,
I hope you all liked my last post on music, I'm hoping to make this into a series. Let me know if you have any thing that you do for fun that I could write about as an introvert.
This time I will be talking about reading. I love to read. I wish I had more time to do it, but with homework and school it can be difficult. Then when I do have free time I'm too tired to do the reading that I want to do. So you could say that high school has killed my curiosity for finding new worlds.
Now lets step away from the meldramaticness of that last line, and let me explain how I keep myself reading. I am a member of the sight called Goodreads. It is free, you can hook it up to Facebook and Amazon. You can also set challenges for yourself. This is what I do. Each year I try to add a few more books to my amount, and complete it before the time is done. If you want you can friend me: Amanda LaCorte.
I also join groups on there. Those groups recommend books, and have discussions about them. I have joined groups that read books that I like, so I am always staying interested.
I love reading and this website has allowed me to stay even more interested in it. Please enjoy!
Love,
Amanda
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Spending Time Like an Introvert: Music
Hello everyone,
One of our segments for this blog is going to be called Spending Time Like an Introvert. This is mostly about different activities that we enjoy doing as our little introverted selves. So the first one I would like to write about is music and how my music taste has developed.
Now I know that everyone listens to some kind of music, I mean it's one of the main reasons I stay an introvert. I always have this beautiful and personal thing to fall back on after society hurts me time after time. My journey has been an interesting, crazy time. I was thinking back to how much it has changed over the past four years when I started thinking about classics and how they too have changed.
When we think back to the music our parents listened to it was so amazing. It has originality and that sound is just.... It will never grow old. But today's classics are not that way. Alyssa and I both listen to different types of music, neither of which are the popular music that is played on the radio. She has a hand in almost every type of music: indie, k-pop, alternative, pop. I listen to a more exact list: alternative, classic rock, soundtracks, and folk. (I know its odd combination.) Our music won't be thought of when the next generation is old and looking back on what we did. This make me sad to think that one day my children might look up at me and ask if I listened to Miley Cyrus since I grew up in the 2000s. So for everyone to not forget that their are other types of music out there, here is the way I came to loving the music I listen to now.
It all started in middle school. Before that all I listened to was Christian music because that what my parents had, and books on tape because I was a weird kid. But in middle school I grabbed a new taste, or should I say I found someone else's music to listen to. My best friend was awesome, popular, and everything I wasn't. We went to a very small school, so it was not really that odd that the most popular girl there and the class nerd hung out every day. I can say now that I was jealous of her. She always looked nice, said the right things, and EVERYONE wanted to be around her. She did her hair and makeup every day, and, well, I didn't. Maybe I didn't want to be her, but I wanted this likability that she had. So I changed what I could. Sure I wasn't about to have straight hair or beautiful skin but I could change what I liked. I started listening to her music thinking it would make me be just a little more like her.
I should have known that was a waste. I look back now on my pop phase and know it was such a waste of money, time, and it put such terrible lyrics in my head. I love my friend, we still talk to this day, but I have since developed my own form of expression.
She loved Glee. While I didn't care for the show, I still watched it because she watched it, and I am so thankful I did. I only watched the first season, because that was all I needed to change me into an independent person. They played Journey, and I came home one day singing Don't Stop Believin'. My dad heard me and asked if I liked that song, to which I said yes. He took me into our living room, and I swear I have been in there a million times and never gone into this cupboard. But he opened it up and there was about 50 CDs from when he was in high school. I was hooked.
I started listening to all of the classics. I still love them, even though my taste has changed the past few years. I think that main reason why I can still appreciate their sound is because they were the first piece of music that I chose, and no one else told me to like it. I still find myself jamming to Billy Joel in my car or hearing Elton John come on my phone, and I cant help but stop everything and sing when Journey comes on the radio. Now I just don't chose them first, I have other tastes that come before they do.
I was still immature though and wanted to be like my friends. So when I started driving I went back to those terrible radio classics. Radioactive led me to my alternative side. I have the entire deluxe Night Visions album by Imagine Dragons and I can not wait till they write some more of that beautiful music. They led me to experiment more with to what I listened. Pandora became my friend. I didn't care if I heard ten terrible songs in a row as long as it led me to one amazing song. I Will Wait was the first time I heard the voice that changed my life. Long story and many months later I am in love with Mumford & Sons. I literally had a dream where I met them.
I was so excited I showed all of my friends this music I had fallen in love with. They hated it. Said M&S was too country, or too poppy, or too main stream, or not that well known. I was heartbroken. I had changed all of my tastes so I could be like them and they wanted nothing to do with my new love. So I FINALLY did the right thing, I listened to music because I liked it and did not care what anyone else around me said. I now have tons of albums: M&S, Of Monsters and Men, Bastille, Florence & the Machines, The Head and the Heart, Radical Face, Imagine Dragons, The Lumineers, and so many soundtracks. It no longer matter to what my friends listened, because I am in love and this music never grows old on me.
So long rant over and I finally get to the point: being an introvert it can be hard not to lose yourself, but keep strong and find who you are before you are lost forever. I have made so many friends because of this new music, and I have made so many friends that hate my music, but it doesn't matter because I am confident in what I love and just want to share with whomever will listen. I will be happy if you like my music, but I will be happier if you have never heard it. I will be thrilled if you share some of yours with me, because humans are not sedentary objects, we are always moving and changing. I never know when my tastes might just be in the mood for what you have.
Life lesson over. I hope you enjoyed this. And now, so I am not a hypocrite, I will share a little bit of my music with you. Enjoy. Or don't. Just be you and I will be happy.
Love,
Amanda
One of our segments for this blog is going to be called Spending Time Like an Introvert. This is mostly about different activities that we enjoy doing as our little introverted selves. So the first one I would like to write about is music and how my music taste has developed.
Now I know that everyone listens to some kind of music, I mean it's one of the main reasons I stay an introvert. I always have this beautiful and personal thing to fall back on after society hurts me time after time. My journey has been an interesting, crazy time. I was thinking back to how much it has changed over the past four years when I started thinking about classics and how they too have changed.
When we think back to the music our parents listened to it was so amazing. It has originality and that sound is just.... It will never grow old. But today's classics are not that way. Alyssa and I both listen to different types of music, neither of which are the popular music that is played on the radio. She has a hand in almost every type of music: indie, k-pop, alternative, pop. I listen to a more exact list: alternative, classic rock, soundtracks, and folk. (I know its odd combination.) Our music won't be thought of when the next generation is old and looking back on what we did. This make me sad to think that one day my children might look up at me and ask if I listened to Miley Cyrus since I grew up in the 2000s. So for everyone to not forget that their are other types of music out there, here is the way I came to loving the music I listen to now.
It all started in middle school. Before that all I listened to was Christian music because that what my parents had, and books on tape because I was a weird kid. But in middle school I grabbed a new taste, or should I say I found someone else's music to listen to. My best friend was awesome, popular, and everything I wasn't. We went to a very small school, so it was not really that odd that the most popular girl there and the class nerd hung out every day. I can say now that I was jealous of her. She always looked nice, said the right things, and EVERYONE wanted to be around her. She did her hair and makeup every day, and, well, I didn't. Maybe I didn't want to be her, but I wanted this likability that she had. So I changed what I could. Sure I wasn't about to have straight hair or beautiful skin but I could change what I liked. I started listening to her music thinking it would make me be just a little more like her.
I should have known that was a waste. I look back now on my pop phase and know it was such a waste of money, time, and it put such terrible lyrics in my head. I love my friend, we still talk to this day, but I have since developed my own form of expression.
She loved Glee. While I didn't care for the show, I still watched it because she watched it, and I am so thankful I did. I only watched the first season, because that was all I needed to change me into an independent person. They played Journey, and I came home one day singing Don't Stop Believin'. My dad heard me and asked if I liked that song, to which I said yes. He took me into our living room, and I swear I have been in there a million times and never gone into this cupboard. But he opened it up and there was about 50 CDs from when he was in high school. I was hooked.
I started listening to all of the classics. I still love them, even though my taste has changed the past few years. I think that main reason why I can still appreciate their sound is because they were the first piece of music that I chose, and no one else told me to like it. I still find myself jamming to Billy Joel in my car or hearing Elton John come on my phone, and I cant help but stop everything and sing when Journey comes on the radio. Now I just don't chose them first, I have other tastes that come before they do.
I was still immature though and wanted to be like my friends. So when I started driving I went back to those terrible radio classics. Radioactive led me to my alternative side. I have the entire deluxe Night Visions album by Imagine Dragons and I can not wait till they write some more of that beautiful music. They led me to experiment more with to what I listened. Pandora became my friend. I didn't care if I heard ten terrible songs in a row as long as it led me to one amazing song. I Will Wait was the first time I heard the voice that changed my life. Long story and many months later I am in love with Mumford & Sons. I literally had a dream where I met them.
I was so excited I showed all of my friends this music I had fallen in love with. They hated it. Said M&S was too country, or too poppy, or too main stream, or not that well known. I was heartbroken. I had changed all of my tastes so I could be like them and they wanted nothing to do with my new love. So I FINALLY did the right thing, I listened to music because I liked it and did not care what anyone else around me said. I now have tons of albums: M&S, Of Monsters and Men, Bastille, Florence & the Machines, The Head and the Heart, Radical Face, Imagine Dragons, The Lumineers, and so many soundtracks. It no longer matter to what my friends listened, because I am in love and this music never grows old on me.
So long rant over and I finally get to the point: being an introvert it can be hard not to lose yourself, but keep strong and find who you are before you are lost forever. I have made so many friends because of this new music, and I have made so many friends that hate my music, but it doesn't matter because I am confident in what I love and just want to share with whomever will listen. I will be happy if you like my music, but I will be happier if you have never heard it. I will be thrilled if you share some of yours with me, because humans are not sedentary objects, we are always moving and changing. I never know when my tastes might just be in the mood for what you have.
Life lesson over. I hope you enjoyed this. And now, so I am not a hypocrite, I will share a little bit of my music with you. Enjoy. Or don't. Just be you and I will be happy.
Love,
Amanda
Monday, August 25, 2014
One month
Hello everyone,
Very quick post today; I just wanted to come on and say it has now been one month of this blog. It all started with a crazy little idea and has grow so much. Alyssa and I still love writing for you guys, and can not wait to see how far the next eleven months take us.
If you are returning here, thank you for reading our posts. If this is your first time, please check out all of the other posts to find funny stories, relatable situations, book reviews, and lots of other introvert related information.
Love,
Amanda
Due to tedious time constraints, I can't make a lengthy, reflective post like I usually do but then again, I don't think you guys want to read paragraphs and paragraphs of how much I love sharing my interests on the interwebs nor would you want to read about how much I love collaborating with my best friend Amanda. And how banal would it be for you guys to read about how much I love seeing this blog grow and evolve. Ugh! So many words. That said, thanks for reading! Lifts imaginary goblet in the air, Here's to many more months of all things introverted!
Lots of Love,
Alyssa
Very quick post today; I just wanted to come on and say it has now been one month of this blog. It all started with a crazy little idea and has grow so much. Alyssa and I still love writing for you guys, and can not wait to see how far the next eleven months take us.
If you are returning here, thank you for reading our posts. If this is your first time, please check out all of the other posts to find funny stories, relatable situations, book reviews, and lots of other introvert related information.
.JPG) |
| Alyssa and I last winter |
Love,
Amanda
Due to tedious time constraints, I can't make a lengthy, reflective post like I usually do but then again, I don't think you guys want to read paragraphs and paragraphs of how much I love sharing my interests on the interwebs nor would you want to read about how much I love collaborating with my best friend Amanda. And how banal would it be for you guys to read about how much I love seeing this blog grow and evolve. Ugh! So many words. That said, thanks for reading! Lifts imaginary goblet in the air, Here's to many more months of all things introverted!
 |
| Me and Amanda...in the winter? Spring? |
Lots of Love,
Alyssa
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Book Review: The Magicians
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| I do not own this picture, courtesy of Google Images |
The setting takes place in modern day Brooklyn with high school student, Quentin Coldwater, a precocious student applying for Princeton university when suddenly, his college interview lands him at the entrance test of a magical university called Brakebills. So the reviews most definitely hold true with the Narnia and Harry Potter parallels but by no means does it hinder your experience of this book. If anything it enhances it.
WARNING! As this was my first adult fiction book, let me be the first one to tell you that this book is not at all like a YA book so expect adult content (not even the PG-13 kind so read at your own risk).
Indeed it was adult in all senses of the word. One thing I wasn't expecting was the dark themes and in a way Grossman kind of kills our childhood fantasies by subverting our preconception of magic. Magic is described as a craft, it's a skill that takes serious honing and major attention, focus, and detail. It's tedious. “Magic, Quentin discovered, wasn’t romantic at all. It was grim and repetitive and deceptive.” Grossman strips it down to a science of sorts, but what I liked about Quentin was that he still earnestly believed in magic, seeing it as something more.
However; here's where the dark stuff comes in because inevitably Quentin does become jaded, tainted with the "lack-of-purpose" conundrum that evidently many magicians succumb to. With all the magic at your fingertips, you can have anything! So what more do you have to achieve? What purpose could you serve? It was these weary pages of Quentin's inner conflict and turmoil in the plot that made me rather depressed. And when Quentin does find the one thing he desires, he's still not happy. So, the last remaining half of the novel is simply tragic but I have to admit that that was my favorite part. Why? Well, why does anyone like tragedy? I would say the irony of it all. Specifically to the book, it highlights the whole theme of desire and how you can't chase your childhood fantasies. As cliche as it seems, I feel like Quentin just needed to be happy with what he had and maybe he could have avoided the whole angst-y drama bit. But then again, if that were the case the plot would be nonexistent.
On a more technical note, Grossman's writing is neither too detailed or too sparse, so I really got a good feel of the world he was trying to create. The tone felt somber at times but mystical what with all the magical elements. However the plot movement dragged a bit towards the middle for me, and it was during those were the parts were I hated Quentin the most, but I liked him best towards the end. Alice, his love interest, was probably the best character in the whole book, and I most definitely loved her more than Quentin. She was more intuitive and she, unlike poor Quentin, was never corrupted by magic.
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| I do not own this picture, courtesy of Google Images |
I Give It: 7 out of 10
Lots of Love,
Alyssa
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Thoughts About the Book
(with Spoilers below)
- Loved Quentin and Eliot's friendship
- Eliot's letter was one my favorite parts
- I like the image of Quentin towards the end with the Albert Einstein hair and the wooden arms and legs, which kind of symbolizes how hollow in the aftermath of the tragedy.
- Liked how Grossman incorporated Philip Chatwin as the corrupted beast in the end as the cautionary tale
- I was definitely shocked by Amanda Orloff's death. The end of that chapter actually made me gasp out loud.
- Loved Alice because she was probably the best character in the whole book and she's too good for Quentin, I will miss her dearly.
- Least Favorite Character(s): Penny and Janet
- What happened to Julia!? (And then I found out that there was a sequel so...)
Thursday, August 21, 2014
An Introvert's Best Friend
My lovely friends,
Life can be so funny sometimes....
Now that that's said, please enjoy my misery. I have learned the only way to get through hard times is laughter, so join in with me laughing at myself.
My favorite part of being an introvert is the silence. Sometimes, I would take a bath just so I could stick my head under the water and have it even quieter for a few seconds than it already was in my empty house. When I started driving it was such a blessing. Silence. Or even if not silence, I could chose the noise to which I listened.
A few months after I started driving by myself Alyssa started carpooling with me (hear more of that story at getting back to school/Sherlock). While I love her and the memories we made, I really missed the silence.
This year we are no longer carpooling. Congrats to Alyssa for being able to drive finally! So today was the third day of school, the third day of silence. I got in my car this morning to go to school, and my silence was broken. Coming from my AC vent, like an old VHS player rewinding, was a high pitch screech. I was terrified. I shut my car off, and it stopped. I turned it back on, and it started.
Fortunately I live in Florida, land of the morning sunshine and breezes....
I turned my AC off and rolled my windows down. This was not a bad option on the way to school, with temperatures in the 80s and the sun just coming up. But as I walked out to my car at 2:13 to leave, I prayed that terrible cat squeal would stop.
It didn't.
Unfortunately I live in Florida, land of the afternoon sun strokes and practically under water humidity.....
I now had a terrible choice to make: live without AC and sweat to death or live with that noise. I rolled my windows down and tried to enjoy the silences.
I wish it ended there. But as I was leaving the parking lot I remembered that I needed a few more school supplies. A few left turns later and my curly, frizzy hair looked like a cactus. Staples was very nice with its cold AC but the people need to work on the staring at my messy hair.
As I reentered the car, I had the fleeting memory of how nice the inside of the store felt. But silence was still my best friend, choosing it would always be my first response. I checked my phone. 94 degrees with 60% humidity. I will just have to drive fast.
To wrap up this interesting story, I got home with a red face, enormous hair, and a new concept of what a best friend is. As I sat in the freezer I realized that sometimes we must give up small things we love to stay alive. That reminds me the Bee Gees played while I was driving home; at least I listened to their advice!
Love,
Amanda
Life can be so funny sometimes....
Now that that's said, please enjoy my misery. I have learned the only way to get through hard times is laughter, so join in with me laughing at myself.
My favorite part of being an introvert is the silence. Sometimes, I would take a bath just so I could stick my head under the water and have it even quieter for a few seconds than it already was in my empty house. When I started driving it was such a blessing. Silence. Or even if not silence, I could chose the noise to which I listened.
A few months after I started driving by myself Alyssa started carpooling with me (hear more of that story at getting back to school/Sherlock). While I love her and the memories we made, I really missed the silence.
This year we are no longer carpooling. Congrats to Alyssa for being able to drive finally! So today was the third day of school, the third day of silence. I got in my car this morning to go to school, and my silence was broken. Coming from my AC vent, like an old VHS player rewinding, was a high pitch screech. I was terrified. I shut my car off, and it stopped. I turned it back on, and it started.
Fortunately I live in Florida, land of the morning sunshine and breezes....
I turned my AC off and rolled my windows down. This was not a bad option on the way to school, with temperatures in the 80s and the sun just coming up. But as I walked out to my car at 2:13 to leave, I prayed that terrible cat squeal would stop.
It didn't.
Unfortunately I live in Florida, land of the afternoon sun strokes and practically under water humidity.....
I now had a terrible choice to make: live without AC and sweat to death or live with that noise. I rolled my windows down and tried to enjoy the silences.
I wish it ended there. But as I was leaving the parking lot I remembered that I needed a few more school supplies. A few left turns later and my curly, frizzy hair looked like a cactus. Staples was very nice with its cold AC but the people need to work on the staring at my messy hair.
As I reentered the car, I had the fleeting memory of how nice the inside of the store felt. But silence was still my best friend, choosing it would always be my first response. I checked my phone. 94 degrees with 60% humidity. I will just have to drive fast.
To wrap up this interesting story, I got home with a red face, enormous hair, and a new concept of what a best friend is. As I sat in the freezer I realized that sometimes we must give up small things we love to stay alive. That reminds me the Bee Gees played while I was driving home; at least I listened to their advice!
Love,
Amanda
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Omega to Alpha
I was casually scrolling through Facebook today and there was this ongoing theme: the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega. As high school seniors, people were posting, Last First Day of School photos. Aside from feeling somewhat blue because my respective parent didn't pester me for a pic, I couldn't help but reflect on how much I've grown and how much I've changed from my itty bitty freshman years. And this whole day has been more or less: surreal.
I remember I walked on campus with both my parents to see me off in the wee hours of the morning, but now I come back, with a car nonetheless, and I walk into the halls alone, but more assured of myself than the little 15 year old who turned back to wave good bye.
Changes? Well, for one thing: just knowing. I know more people, I know more places, and I know my way around the school. Needless to say, I was confident, now my only hope is that I can carry that with me after high school. If there's anything I've learned about being an introvert in high school, you can't wait for experience to give that confidence boost.
Each year, I've gotten more comfortable in my skin at school, which is a given with time and experience, but I've noticed that I'm like a snake lurking in the undergrowth, checking my surroundings, before I slither out of the shadows. I wait until I'm comfortable enough before I really venture out.
People say that timing is everything, and I would have to agree, because I realized that I could have done more stuff, if I had just hit the ground running instead of just waiting. That can be my problem sometimes: waaaaaaiiiiittttiiiiinnnnnggggggg,
If there's something I've improved on, it's being more proactive. Call it an introvert's occupational hazard but ideas and daydreams swarm about in my head like bees, but I've never actually produced the honey (please excuse the excessive use of simile, I quite like them). As the years have gone by, I've worked on branching out without so much deliberation. Deliberation is just a rational word for indecision which is something that I have a lot. Thus, there really isn't much that I can say that won't sound cliche. Yes, I've grown, and yes, I've experienced so many new things by just "putting myself out there", but the thing is making a habit of it.
So while I begin the last of my first day of school, my goal is to not only do better in school, but to make sure that I don't rely on experience to boost my confidence. I want any confidence that I gain, to stem from myself. I don't want to wait until circumstances fit to my terms, I want to fit the terms of whatever circumstance I encounter. Most importantly, I want to take a word out of my teacher's book: self-pride. I want to gain confidence in my capabilities even if I find myself among the "best and the brightest" as he put it.
The point is: it's ok to be the freshman, it's normal because it's about the experience; however, don't wait to be a senior to gain a presence. All the Alpha's had to start somewhere. Confidence is best manifested from yourself and yourself only. Ha! Look at me, sounding like a wizened man with a long beard and white hair. Even though I may not be Gandalf or Dumbledore, hopefully my two cents will help you, enlighten you, or just entertain you. So,
from an
I remember I walked on campus with both my parents to see me off in the wee hours of the morning, but now I come back, with a car nonetheless, and I walk into the halls alone, but more assured of myself than the little 15 year old who turned back to wave good bye.
Changes? Well, for one thing: just knowing. I know more people, I know more places, and I know my way around the school. Needless to say, I was confident, now my only hope is that I can carry that with me after high school. If there's anything I've learned about being an introvert in high school, you can't wait for experience to give that confidence boost.
Each year, I've gotten more comfortable in my skin at school, which is a given with time and experience, but I've noticed that I'm like a snake lurking in the undergrowth, checking my surroundings, before I slither out of the shadows. I wait until I'm comfortable enough before I really venture out.
People say that timing is everything, and I would have to agree, because I realized that I could have done more stuff, if I had just hit the ground running instead of just waiting. That can be my problem sometimes: waaaaaaiiiiittttiiiiinnnnnggggggg,
 |
| Prime Example of moi. (I do not own this picture) |
So while I begin the last of my first day of school, my goal is to not only do better in school, but to make sure that I don't rely on experience to boost my confidence. I want any confidence that I gain, to stem from myself. I don't want to wait until circumstances fit to my terms, I want to fit the terms of whatever circumstance I encounter. Most importantly, I want to take a word out of my teacher's book: self-pride. I want to gain confidence in my capabilities even if I find myself among the "best and the brightest" as he put it.
The point is: it's ok to be the freshman, it's normal because it's about the experience; however, don't wait to be a senior to gain a presence. All the Alpha's had to start somewhere. Confidence is best manifested from yourself and yourself only. Ha! Look at me, sounding like a wizened man with a long beard and white hair. Even though I may not be Gandalf or Dumbledore, hopefully my two cents will help you, enlighten you, or just entertain you. So,
from an
Introvert's Guide: Have a Happy First Day of School!
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| I do not own this picture |
Friday, August 15, 2014
Getting Back to School/ Sherlock
Hello beautiful people,
Introverts tend to stay away from any social interactions that they can. One of the worst social events of the year for me is the first day of school. If you are starting a new school, you wonder if you will make friends, and for returning members you wonder if your friends have changed or made new friends or will even like you anymore. Summer has always been a time for me to get away from people. I don't text if I can help it. I don't go on Facebook. I don't make plans with friends. I need those three months alone for me to be able to spend it with people the other nine.
So while I always have this nervous feeling that my friends have moved on in the past weeks, I still push myself out of bed and get to school looking decent. Making friends has always been a struggle for me. Don't get me wrong, almost everyone at my school considers me a friend, I'm a crazy, outgoing person that is easy to talk to, but many times I don't consider others friends. And now I have a little story about that:
Alyssa and I have known each other since first grade. Let me rephrase that, Alyssa and I had a class together in first grade. I left that school half way through the year and have no memory of her, but she still remembers me. The first time I remember meeting her was freshman year of high school. She was the nerdy Asian girl to whom I could talk. She was nice, and I didn't feel judged when talking to her, so we swapped numbers and had a whole year of being friends/ me having classes with her.
She soon became other Alyssa to me, because me had Alyssa P. We had one inside joke and nothing else to our friendship. (I can't see you) I really didn't consider her that close but always as a backup option if nothing better came along.
Sophomore year was slightly different. We still weren't close. We went to homecoming together with another girl, but once I got there I hung out with other people. We had a blog together, but other than that I wasn't to attached to her. Over the summer she asked if we could carpool junior year. Really what she wanted was a ride home, and I felt put out by this request. But I said yes, mainly because I had no other reason to say no.
Our first ride home was awkward. We had both quit the blog a long time ago, and even though we had known each other for a long time, I felt no connection to her. To this day, I still feel terrible for the time I accidently left her at school. I was just in a hurry, and Alyssa, I am so sorry.
But doesn't every good friendship need its trials? Hermione wasn't part of our heroic threesome till halfway through the first book.
Somehow we both became friends. Maybe it was the long and personal talks on the way home. Maybe it was the constant texting to work our schedules together. Maybe it was destiny. Either way, soon those dreaded car rides home were the one part of the day I looked forward too. It was a twenty minute escape between school and homework that we could both just be ourselves. We made tons of inside jokes and found so many things we had in common.
We both watched Sherlock. We noticed that I was very much like Sherlock and she was like my Watson. We would laugh over it and joke about those things. I would lead her around and she would follow me. I would poke, nudge, and prank her and she was always there for me. She was one of my true and closest friends. I even found myself texting her about 50 things in a row (talking to her even though she wasn't there)
We both took psychology this year. One of our assignments was to take the Myers-Brigg personality test that we offered to you guys in the first post we put one here. When we got our results we could not believe it. I was INTJ, the rarest of all types for women, and she was ISFP, the most common type for women. We were talking about how accurate these were for us, and in the middle of learning about them we came across famous people with the same type as us. I had Sherlock and she had Watson.
We could not believe how accurate our casting had been. We were both so happy, we changed the contact names in our phones to our new aliases. But that was not the end to the Sherlock similarities.
We found many pictures online that described our friendship perfectly. My all time favorite is this one, because I always mess with Alyssa and she always falls for it. I can perfectly see this happening.
Introverts tend to stay away from any social interactions that they can. One of the worst social events of the year for me is the first day of school. If you are starting a new school, you wonder if you will make friends, and for returning members you wonder if your friends have changed or made new friends or will even like you anymore. Summer has always been a time for me to get away from people. I don't text if I can help it. I don't go on Facebook. I don't make plans with friends. I need those three months alone for me to be able to spend it with people the other nine.
So while I always have this nervous feeling that my friends have moved on in the past weeks, I still push myself out of bed and get to school looking decent. Making friends has always been a struggle for me. Don't get me wrong, almost everyone at my school considers me a friend, I'm a crazy, outgoing person that is easy to talk to, but many times I don't consider others friends. And now I have a little story about that:
Alyssa and I have known each other since first grade. Let me rephrase that, Alyssa and I had a class together in first grade. I left that school half way through the year and have no memory of her, but she still remembers me. The first time I remember meeting her was freshman year of high school. She was the nerdy Asian girl to whom I could talk. She was nice, and I didn't feel judged when talking to her, so we swapped numbers and had a whole year of being friends/ me having classes with her.
She soon became other Alyssa to me, because me had Alyssa P. We had one inside joke and nothing else to our friendship. (I can't see you) I really didn't consider her that close but always as a backup option if nothing better came along.
Sophomore year was slightly different. We still weren't close. We went to homecoming together with another girl, but once I got there I hung out with other people. We had a blog together, but other than that I wasn't to attached to her. Over the summer she asked if we could carpool junior year. Really what she wanted was a ride home, and I felt put out by this request. But I said yes, mainly because I had no other reason to say no.
Our first ride home was awkward. We had both quit the blog a long time ago, and even though we had known each other for a long time, I felt no connection to her. To this day, I still feel terrible for the time I accidently left her at school. I was just in a hurry, and Alyssa, I am so sorry.
But doesn't every good friendship need its trials? Hermione wasn't part of our heroic threesome till halfway through the first book.
Somehow we both became friends. Maybe it was the long and personal talks on the way home. Maybe it was the constant texting to work our schedules together. Maybe it was destiny. Either way, soon those dreaded car rides home were the one part of the day I looked forward too. It was a twenty minute escape between school and homework that we could both just be ourselves. We made tons of inside jokes and found so many things we had in common.
We both watched Sherlock. We noticed that I was very much like Sherlock and she was like my Watson. We would laugh over it and joke about those things. I would lead her around and she would follow me. I would poke, nudge, and prank her and she was always there for me. She was one of my true and closest friends. I even found myself texting her about 50 things in a row (talking to her even though she wasn't there)
We both took psychology this year. One of our assignments was to take the Myers-Brigg personality test that we offered to you guys in the first post we put one here. When we got our results we could not believe it. I was INTJ, the rarest of all types for women, and she was ISFP, the most common type for women. We were talking about how accurate these were for us, and in the middle of learning about them we came across famous people with the same type as us. I had Sherlock and she had Watson.
We could not believe how accurate our casting had been. We were both so happy, we changed the contact names in our phones to our new aliases. But that was not the end to the Sherlock similarities.
We found many pictures online that described our friendship perfectly. My all time favorite is this one, because I always mess with Alyssa and she always falls for it. I can perfectly see this happening.
It works so perfectly for after all of the times I prank her and she swears it will be the last and it never is.
But there are other perfect ones too.
For all the times I goof off and she just stares at me.
And it doesn't just have to be Sherlock, as long as it is Sherlock Holmes related.
:) Love you too Alyssa
But we have our nice moments too
Overall she's my other half and I am so thankful for all of the many memories we have been able to make together. This could be a friendship that lasts forever.
So to end the story and tie it all together, whenever I am presented with a situation where I have to meet new people and don't want to interact with, I think of all the friends I have made because I interacted with people. Without going to school I would never have made this crazy, awesome friendship. Every time I have to be with others or get nervous about meeting people, I rub this scar I have on my hand. While Alyssa did not give it to me, another friend I have who I didn't like at first did. Whenever I see the scar I think of how I have changed because of my friendships and how one person can make such a difference in life.
Love,
Amanda/Sherlock
P.S. Alyssa- This is the first time you are hearing most of this. Remember I didn't know you then, but I known you know and love you. Enjoy these pictures of our friendship and remember, unlike Harry, the game is a foot!
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Introvert Meets Gym
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| Photo Courtesy of Pinterest, I do not own this photo |
I went to my local YMCA with co-author/friend Amanda, as she is an expert at exercising in the sense that she is far more knowledgeable about performing workouts and maneuvering exercise machines than I. And it doesn't hurt that she's had a good 11 or so years of team sports under her belt. Me? Does...dancing in my room count?
After some light jogging on the treadmill, of course fate wasn't done with me yet. I bumped into a classmate of mine. Luckily, she is such a sweet person and I had no qualms against her, but it goes to show that "bumping into people" is a charming and somewhat hazardous characteristic of small town life.
Overall, it wasn't bad all things considering. I had went to two other gyms before this and I can definitely concur with the three bears when they say third time's the charm. As an introvert that doesn't seek out any form of physical fitness (aside from pinning workouts from Pinterest), I relished in the opportunity to improve my health and I could definitely feel my mood perk up afterwards. So those healthy food commercials are right to some degree: when you make healthy decisions there is some kind of domino effect because I would actually eat fruits afterwards. (Also surprising if you are aware of my eating habits). That said, a gym or some sort of physical activity is worthwhile if you know how to go about it. So, here's some things to consider when tackling the monster that is a gym.
Choose Your Gym Wisely
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| Photo Courtesy of Pinterest, I do not own this photo |
Headphones are Your best Friends
Actual People Don't Hurt Either
While introverts avoid social situations, it helps to have some back up. Take a friend! It makes you more motivated and pumped and slightly less awkward. So when you can't figure out how to turn on your treadmill you have a helping hand to ease you into the routine of working out.
Should you find yourself dubious of all things gym-related let this anecdote serve as inspiration. At the gym, Amanda and I saw a little boy around 7 or 8 years. He was dressed in slacks and a polo, reading the Odyssey whilst walking around the perimeter of the pool while all the other kids were swimming in the pool. Seeing him, gave my heartstrings a little tug, because I was him as a kid. So if he can make it to the gym, then I sure as hell can too!
Eventually, once you settle into a routine, going to the gym isn't as bad as it sounds but even I know that's easier said than done. So my best advice is just keep trying because you'll find something that works for you and God knows that we introverts need some exercise. Just think: if Frodo can go to Mordor and battle evil forces then going to the gym won't be half as bad.
Lots of Love,
Alyssa
Monday, August 11, 2014
Fighting the Truth
Hello my pretties,
I feel the sudden urge to clarify something. I am an introvert. There are going to be many times that it won't seem that way. I am what scientists call a moderate introvert, meaning I'm on the border. People often mistake me as an extrovert because I make friends with as many people as I can. I talk to almost anyone and feel comfortable about it. It was not always like this for me.
It started after middle school. Those three years had been like hell on wheels for me, much like it is for most kids. When I started high school, I didn't want to be that awkward kid again. So I changed. I told myself that that awkward tension wasn't there; that people will talk if you start the conversation. I became a friend to everyone. I have forced myself to go and talk with other people, and I am so glad I did. Before I was always worried about what people thought about me and how I was acting, but as soon as I stopped caring I was free to be who I truly am.
Now many of you fellow introverts are terrified by the idea of talking to others first. You probably think I'm crazy for making friends with people in other groups. Let me be honest; It can be terrible. People are not always nice. They don't have the same beliefs as me and it can be hard to make myself do it day after day. I still don't go to parties because of how much social anxiety I get, and I don't leave the house that often because of how tired being around people makes me. That's why I'm an introvert. I just have decided that living in fear and regret is something I don't want to do, so I have stopped it.
Alyssa and I are very different people. She is happy with her introvert side. I am extremely happy too. But as this blog goes on, many of you will relate more to her because she is proud and staying an introvert. You can think of me as a introvert intervention. I will be posting about my time as I try to go against what every bone in my body is telling me. If you are an introvert and are tired of being stuck in your shell than you might relate more to me. Either way, we will both be posting some great stories, events, and just tons of stuff for you all to read about and hopefully interact with.
Here is a little picture to help bring a smile to an introvert's face.
I know this is more serious than I normally am, but I needed to explain this before I started with all of the other posts. May the odds be ever in your favor, whatever your favor may be.
As Always,
Amanda
I feel the sudden urge to clarify something. I am an introvert. There are going to be many times that it won't seem that way. I am what scientists call a moderate introvert, meaning I'm on the border. People often mistake me as an extrovert because I make friends with as many people as I can. I talk to almost anyone and feel comfortable about it. It was not always like this for me.
It started after middle school. Those three years had been like hell on wheels for me, much like it is for most kids. When I started high school, I didn't want to be that awkward kid again. So I changed. I told myself that that awkward tension wasn't there; that people will talk if you start the conversation. I became a friend to everyone. I have forced myself to go and talk with other people, and I am so glad I did. Before I was always worried about what people thought about me and how I was acting, but as soon as I stopped caring I was free to be who I truly am.
Now many of you fellow introverts are terrified by the idea of talking to others first. You probably think I'm crazy for making friends with people in other groups. Let me be honest; It can be terrible. People are not always nice. They don't have the same beliefs as me and it can be hard to make myself do it day after day. I still don't go to parties because of how much social anxiety I get, and I don't leave the house that often because of how tired being around people makes me. That's why I'm an introvert. I just have decided that living in fear and regret is something I don't want to do, so I have stopped it.
Alyssa and I are very different people. She is happy with her introvert side. I am extremely happy too. But as this blog goes on, many of you will relate more to her because she is proud and staying an introvert. You can think of me as a introvert intervention. I will be posting about my time as I try to go against what every bone in my body is telling me. If you are an introvert and are tired of being stuck in your shell than you might relate more to me. Either way, we will both be posting some great stories, events, and just tons of stuff for you all to read about and hopefully interact with.
Here is a little picture to help bring a smile to an introvert's face.
I know this is more serious than I normally am, but I needed to explain this before I started with all of the other posts. May the odds be ever in your favor, whatever your favor may be.
As Always,
Amanda
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Breaking the Shell
Well hello again! I thought it would be apropos to take some time to reflect on what being an introvert means to me because I understand that it's different for everyone and it also helps to understand the writer's perspective.
Since I was a child, I was always shy and quiet. Hiding behind my mom wasn't uncommon. Keeping a couple feet behind the group was how I kept my pace. Starting a sentence and finishing it off with a murmur wasn't a condition, it was just me. I was that one kid at the party who read a book in the corner and I was totally fine with it. Why would I want to be at a party when I could be fighting the White Witch in Narnia?
I think I take pride in being an introvert because that's a part of who I am, but like everything else; balance is key. As a perpetual daydreamer, I always imagined myself doing these great, ambitious roles: a star player, an artsy photographer, or an adept baker. I wanted to be like the people I read in books and watched in movies, but something was blocking that: me. I desired to be all these things, but I was too shy and self-conscious to do anything. I think that's why I'm a daydreamer: it's because I can be anything I want and I won't have anything stopping me.
Oh, but how that's deluded me. I realized at a young age that if I wanted to be like those people I dreamed about I had to stop being introverted. I had to break the shell of my own making. As the days go on, I try my best to do something, anything that puts me out "there". It's an everyday struggle because it's so natural for me to be introverted.Sometimes tapping into my extrovert side means tapping into my awkward side, because when I try to make friends and interact I don't have the same effect as my other friends do. They can make friends in the snap of a finger.
However; I can say from experience that when you do take that step, it's rewarding. For all the times that I've done something new and out of my comfort zone, I have learned something new, I added something to my "experience box", and I've met new people. It's almost as good as fighting those beasts in Narnia (almost).
But most likely if you're reading this, then you are an introvert too. So, I just want to say, there's nothing wrong with being an introvert. The world needs introverts believe it or not. We're the invisible observers and it's through the silent, subtle actions that we do that impacts the world. Can you imagine if all the loud, extroverts ruled the world? We'd need Beats headphones to block out all the noise and chaos! I digress.
The point is: I love being an introvert because that's how I learn. It's also how I take in my world. I don't always have to be an extrovert because how then, can I be that sympathetic sponge that absorbs my friends troubles? How can I really be me? I notice that if I take too much trouble to be social, I forget to take time for myself so I can explore my own hobbies. So don't reject your introvert side, rather embrace it with open arms! Just don't let it completely take over you to the point that it inhibits you from self-growth. Also, it makes even that more special when I decide to be more extroverted.
So every day I try to reach my full potential but I won't lie to you and say that it's easy. It's not. Part of being introverted stems from lack of self-esteem but I want this blog to be a way for all of us to reach our full potential, too, whilst embracing all aspects of ourselves! That's the thing: I don't think you can be one or the other. I think we have both sides; we just need to find that balance.
Lots of Love,
Alyssa
Since I was a child, I was always shy and quiet. Hiding behind my mom wasn't uncommon. Keeping a couple feet behind the group was how I kept my pace. Starting a sentence and finishing it off with a murmur wasn't a condition, it was just me. I was that one kid at the party who read a book in the corner and I was totally fine with it. Why would I want to be at a party when I could be fighting the White Witch in Narnia?
I think I take pride in being an introvert because that's a part of who I am, but like everything else; balance is key. As a perpetual daydreamer, I always imagined myself doing these great, ambitious roles: a star player, an artsy photographer, or an adept baker. I wanted to be like the people I read in books and watched in movies, but something was blocking that: me. I desired to be all these things, but I was too shy and self-conscious to do anything. I think that's why I'm a daydreamer: it's because I can be anything I want and I won't have anything stopping me.
Oh, but how that's deluded me. I realized at a young age that if I wanted to be like those people I dreamed about I had to stop being introverted. I had to break the shell of my own making. As the days go on, I try my best to do something, anything that puts me out "there". It's an everyday struggle because it's so natural for me to be introverted.Sometimes tapping into my extrovert side means tapping into my awkward side, because when I try to make friends and interact I don't have the same effect as my other friends do. They can make friends in the snap of a finger.
However; I can say from experience that when you do take that step, it's rewarding. For all the times that I've done something new and out of my comfort zone, I have learned something new, I added something to my "experience box", and I've met new people. It's almost as good as fighting those beasts in Narnia (almost).
But most likely if you're reading this, then you are an introvert too. So, I just want to say, there's nothing wrong with being an introvert. The world needs introverts believe it or not. We're the invisible observers and it's through the silent, subtle actions that we do that impacts the world. Can you imagine if all the loud, extroverts ruled the world? We'd need Beats headphones to block out all the noise and chaos! I digress.
The point is: I love being an introvert because that's how I learn. It's also how I take in my world. I don't always have to be an extrovert because how then, can I be that sympathetic sponge that absorbs my friends troubles? How can I really be me? I notice that if I take too much trouble to be social, I forget to take time for myself so I can explore my own hobbies. So don't reject your introvert side, rather embrace it with open arms! Just don't let it completely take over you to the point that it inhibits you from self-growth. Also, it makes even that more special when I decide to be more extroverted.
So every day I try to reach my full potential but I won't lie to you and say that it's easy. It's not. Part of being introverted stems from lack of self-esteem but I want this blog to be a way for all of us to reach our full potential, too, whilst embracing all aspects of ourselves! That's the thing: I don't think you can be one or the other. I think we have both sides; we just need to find that balance.
Lots of Love,
Alyssa
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
A Quick Note About Me: Part 2
Hello all of my beautiful people,
I come to you today to say a little bit about myself. I am the second half of this awesome team that is going to be spreading all of our knowledge about introverism. I would have normally fought with Alyssa to let me go first, but I was out of town last week, so I hoped you enjoyed getting to know her without me around. But now that I'm back, here is a quick summary about me.
Above all else I am an artist. Portraiter for life. I like to paint and draw. Maybe one day I can share some stuff with you, but that's not what this blog is about so maybe not. I love to read. I love to watch movies and TV shows. I analyze everything. Literally, everything! I am a fangirl, the main ones being Sherlock, Harry Potter, Star Trek, The Hunger Games, X-men, Marvel comics, and weird things such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Les Mis, Wicked, Psych, Once Upon a Time, and Mumford & Sons. I don't watch supernatural or doctor who because I believe it would be like I was cheating on Sherlock. I make up my own words when I cant find one that fits. Take this post for example; I made up two words in it. (50 points to Slytherin if you find them.) School is my life, at least for the next year. I ride horses and love it.
As you can see I am a crazy busy person. I mean, whomever made Sherlock episodes that long did not think about my schedule! In all seriousness I like this blog, and I promise to stay with it as long as possible. I just hope you can make me the same promise.
As always,
Amanda
I come to you today to say a little bit about myself. I am the second half of this awesome team that is going to be spreading all of our knowledge about introverism. I would have normally fought with Alyssa to let me go first, but I was out of town last week, so I hoped you enjoyed getting to know her without me around. But now that I'm back, here is a quick summary about me.
Above all else I am an artist. Portraiter for life. I like to paint and draw. Maybe one day I can share some stuff with you, but that's not what this blog is about so maybe not. I love to read. I love to watch movies and TV shows. I analyze everything. Literally, everything! I am a fangirl, the main ones being Sherlock, Harry Potter, Star Trek, The Hunger Games, X-men, Marvel comics, and weird things such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Les Mis, Wicked, Psych, Once Upon a Time, and Mumford & Sons. I don't watch supernatural or doctor who because I believe it would be like I was cheating on Sherlock. I make up my own words when I cant find one that fits. Take this post for example; I made up two words in it. (50 points to Slytherin if you find them.) School is my life, at least for the next year. I ride horses and love it.
As you can see I am a crazy busy person. I mean, whomever made Sherlock episodes that long did not think about my schedule! In all seriousness I like this blog, and I promise to stay with it as long as possible. I just hope you can make me the same promise.
As always,
Amanda
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