The Complete Idiot's Guide to Using the Sidewalk

1) Stay to the right whenever possible--just like driving.
2) If you are walking faster than someone in front of you, it is ok to pass them on the left, as long as it's safe--just like driving!
3) If you are walking in a group, it's ok to walk next to each other, but leave room for others to get by. If you see someone(s) approaching from the opposite direction, fall into single file.
4) Maintain awareness of who is around you. That includes people behind you who may want to pass you.
5) If you are riding a bicycle, it belongs in the street. If you are not comfortable riding your bike in the street, leave it at home.
6) If you are responsible for children, keep them close to you and teach them these rules.
7) Avoid sudden stops whenever possible.
8) Only text while walking if you can keep your eyes forward, your pace constant, and your path straight.
9) Nobody is capable of meeting the criteria for #8.

question:

can i be a femme of the old school without ever having attended the old school?

on late blooming

a friend described herself last night as "a late-blooming introvert," with which i identified completely. i have only recently come to this understanding of myself as an introvert and embracing of the label. it's not that i don't like people, or that i want to be by myself all the time; it's that i find my strongest energy within myself, not in others.

for a very long time, i tried to behave like an extrovert, because i felt that was what was expected of me. apparently, i learned to play the role well. but even when i mustered up the most out-goingness--or, more realistically, built close enough connections with people that i felt comfortable being my authentic self with them--i have always needed to return to myself to re-center. i have to be comfortable with myself before i can spend the energy on social interactions.

i'm going through a pretty extended process of re-centering right now. i spend a lot of time by myself, and sometimes i feel kind of funny about that. but i appreciate the opportunity to get to know myself and adjust to what my life has become (and is becoming).

i suspect that a lot of introverts feel a lot of guilt about being introverts, and try to take to heart all the lessons we're taught about the need to be outgoing and make friends and (shudder) network. i want to build my own personal network at my own pace and take the time to get to know people. i'm shy, and i want to be reached out to before i introduce myself. sometimes that takes time. it doesn't mean i don't want to do it, it just means that it's hard for me, so i want to be able to choose when and how i approach people.

it takes time to recognize and understand your own thought processes, habits, and ways of relating to the world. i think that introverts are uniquely prepared to relate to other people, because they are more likely to know how they relate to themselves. these kinds of lessons are valuable.

i highly recommend Susan Cain's TED talk "the power of introverts." if you need to feel empowered by your introversion/shyness/need for solitude, watching this is a good way to do it.
http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html
(thank you B =) )

Meyers-Briggs

we got into a discussion about personality types at work yesterday. when i outed myself as an I, my coworker responded, "you're an I?? no way, i definitely thought you were an E."

i said "thank you, i put a lot of work into appearing that way."

what does it mean that my perception of myself is so different from how others perceive me?