Why Would You Assume That?!?!

Warning: This is a pretty major rant and I mean no ill will or meanness...

Can I ask an honest question? I promise I intend no malice. Many of you are my friends, my com padres, people I enjoy and want to keep on enjoying...But I have a problem.

Someone intimated to me the other day that she was surprised I knew as much about a certain subject as she did. Her reasoning?...She's an introvert...and I'm so obviously not. 

It hurt me that she would say that, but I wanted to learn something so I asked why. Her response "You're so bubbly and happy and fun. I just assumed you wouldn't have an interest in things like this." 

Luckily for her I'm a nice person and I genuinely like her so, I restrained my extrovert tendencies and didn't get loud and obnoxious when I informed her that I like reading, calm and quiet just as much as she does. But I also enjoy people and I learn a great deal about a bunch of different things because of my interactions with and curiosity about other people. 

I've forgiven this person but this opened my eyes to a common trend lately and I just wanted to share and ask to have a conversation with you, my dearest introverted friends.

Why does it seem like extroverts are always being portrayed as idiots? 

Why is it automatically assumed that because I'm happy all the time (I'm really not...remember this post) I'm an airhead? 

Why is it assumed that introverts are "deeper" "more intelligent" than their extrovert counterparts?

Why is it OK for an introvert to complain about the extroverts around them disrupting their day and making them miserable but it's not OK for an extrovert to complain about the introverts around them sucking their happiness into a black hole of boring?

I've been an extrovert all my life. But I've always tried to be a very kind one. I genuinely like everyone. There are very few (sadly yes there are some) people that I don't like and can't tolerate. And even those people I'm nice to because I've always felt that while I dislike them, it's not their fault that I do. My feelings are mine and I own them. They don't set out to annoy or upset me on purpose (once again though...there are a few who do) and so it's my problem that I don't like them so it's my responsibility to either avoid them or learn how to deal with them. But nicely. Kindly. With tolerance and love. 

It's been my sad experience to run afoul of quite a few not so kind introverts lately and their excuse for their unkind behavior has been that they are introverts and I annoy them. Simple. As. That. 

I realize that I am loud, but I also know I'm not the only person in the world...if I'm loud and you can't tolerate it...Kindly tell me. Chances are I don't realize it and as soon as you let me know I'll do my level best to fix it for you. Because I care about you. 

I realize that you don't always want to talk to me...I also realize that I sometimes gloss over or overlook social cues...If I'm overwhelming you...Please tell me. Be honest. Say something like, "Shelley...I am very sorry but I just can't talk right now." I'll be a little disappointed (what extrovert wouldn't?) but I'll respect you. I'd much rather you respect me enough to let me know what to do to help you be at your best than for you to allow me to invade your peace. 

But I'm going to ask you a favor, and I'm sincere, and I really want dialogue about this...Please stop treating the extroverts i your life like they are the enemy. They aren't. They just want to be your friend. They just want to love you. They just want to understand and learn from you.

Also...It sure would be nice for you to understand that while I am an extrovert, and I talk a lot, and I love people and being the center of attention, public speaking, singing, telling stories and generally anything that allows me to interact with people...I also:

Need time alone (just not as much as you)

Enjoy reading (a lot...I mean...A LOT!!!)

I sometimes don't want to be around people. I sometimes just want to sit in my own space and marinate in my music...just like you.

Have the ability to think deep and very meaningful thoughts

Most importantly...I'm a person worthy of respect and love and kindness. 

This piece really resonated for me when I read it and I really hope you'll check it out and take most, if not all, of it into account. Just like you need me to take care of you...I need you to do the same for me. It's all about mutual respect. 

The Promised Update

Good afternoon loyal friends!!!

Just checking in with the update I promised last night.

I weighed in this morning, before I ate or drank anything, and I weighed 229. That's down 10lbs from 239 when I started and I have to say...I'm pretty darn proud of me.

I did have a few weeks where I didn't track outside of my head and I indulged more than I should have so I'm sure that set me back. But...10 lbs in a little under two months is very encouraging. With no exercise (more on that later) and just modifying the way I eat.

Even when I do indulge a little I always find myself mentally counting the points and trying to keep track. I think that's a really good thing. It means that even when I'm not tracking and I'm not being "good" I'm still being mindful. That's kind of what Weight Watchers is all about...at least for me.

On to the fitness/exercise thing.

As you know I just started a new job and one of the perks of working for this company is that I have access to a gym for literally dollars. We're talking $8 every two weeks (that's contigent on me visiting the gym 24 days of the month if I don't manage that it will be $15 every two weeks and still totally worth it).

I can totally manage that!

I took a tour of the space today and am already salivating to get on an elliptical. Have any of you ever used an elliptical? I never have and they look so fun. Are they as fun as I think they are? Do you like them? Seriously, let me know in the comments.

But they have circuit equipment for two different levels of fitness, a myriad of classes like yoga and Zumba and spinning and oh so much more.

They also have stationary bikes in the cardio area that have screns attached to them. These screens are like a video game. You can set a mission and work toward achieving it. Like playing a race car game at the arcade only you are in charge of the acceleration in a much healthier and (to me) fun way.

On top of that they have free laundry service, so I can wear my workout gear and when I finish with it, place it in a bag attached to my locker and they will come through each evening and wash my clothes so that they are there, clean and ready for me, the next day. It's totally worth joining just for that!!! OK, not really...but what a great service.

I have to fill out the paperwork and then I get to sit down with a coach who will listen to my goals and help me figure out a program that will work for me. And I'm filling that paperwork out as soon as I post this for you guys.

I've also been working on ramping up my activity in other ways. This new company rewards wellness and a lot of the associates wear pedometers and walk...A LOT!

They have a wellness program that tracks their steps and they have fitness contests surrounding walking all the time. I want to get involed, so I bought a Fitbit Flex and got moving. the goal at the moment is to walk 10,000 steps every day. So for I'm on track for the last three days.

I literally was walking in place in front of my TV last night at 10:15, watching Big Bang Theory (I love that show, don't you?) because I still needed 3,000 or so steps and I knew I could do it. So I walked in place, stepped from side to side, walked around and around my coffee table during the commercial breaks and ran in place while watching and by the time the show was over I had my 3,000 and I was feeling great!

All in all I feel like I'm doing some really great things for myself and I can't help but be proud of that.

Husband-Man says he sees a difference in my form since I started Weight Watchers but I don't notice anything. I haven't lost any pant sizes (trying not to be impatient there) but I know I will soon.

Thank you for all of your support and kind words. You guys are the best!

Don't forget to chime in about ellipticals down below...I'm really curious.

Smooches!
Shelley

PS: Be sure to find me on Facebook here and follow me on Twitter @InANutShelley. You can also find me on Instagram as InANutShelley.

How I'm Doing So Far

So it's been a little over two months since I started Weight Watchers and I really like the program. It's easy to work with and I approach it sort of like a game.

"I want mint chocolate chip ice cream for desert...If I eat a low points dinner then I should be able to have points left over for desert."

"I want macaroni and cheese...go to EmilyBites.com and follow her recipe for Buffalo Chicken & Macaroni and Cheese Muffins."

Seriously...go to her site. Get the recipe. Even if you aren't on Weight Watchers. It's delicious and I MUST have it at least once a week now. Try it. Let me know if you like it.

I actually track my weight tomorrow so I'll post a brief update on that when I do. But  really just wanted to update you on where life is at for me at the moment.

I'm in the middle of my second week at my new job. It's been crazy and hectic and soooo enjoyable. I love this job already. It has some of the elements of what I was already doing, webcast production, support and education, but now I get to actually build processes and best practices and I LOVE doing things like that. Its fulfilling and rewarding to be able to save the company money all the time. And I have a great boss. She's very supportive and unlike my last employer, really wants to understand my role and how I do what I do. I have to admire that.

(Just an aside...G is, at this very moment, checking my pockets for my phone because he wants to play music to dance to. I love his tenacity because he keeps asking..."Where is the phone? I want to sing. Where is the phone? Is it in your pocket?")

And now a funny story...

While I was putting together dinner tonight G was dancing around me begging to go outside and swing on our tire swing. I finished what I was doing and popped it into the oven to bake and proceeded to take him out to the swing. When we got out there I noticed that the bottom of it (It's hanging vertically) was filled with nasty water and I didn't want any of that getting on G or me. 

So I did what I've seen Husband-Man do a million times and I grabbed the swing and swung it really hard at the tree so that it would bounce against the tree and splash the water out. 

It worked. YAY!! 

But then, it came swinging back. I wasn't standing where I was going to get hit so I was laughing and giggling with Gabriel who thought it was all very funny. Until the rope on the swing played out, and the tire jerked at the bottom of the rope...and sent a huge stream of mucky, nasty, leafy, black, swampy winter water right. In. My. FACE!!! And in my MOUTH!!! OMG. So gross!

I was covered in nasty stuff and yelling for Husband-Man, who ran out and when he saw what had happened very kindly didn't laugh, though I could tell it was taking an effort to hold it in. As I stood there soaked and embarrassed and disgusted, he shared what I'm sure he thought was a kind and loving thought, that was going to comfort me and make me feel better. He says, "This is one of the things I love most about you. No one else ever has things like this happen to them, but they happen to you all the time. I really love that about you." 
Nice thought...Yes. I love him too. And I appreciated the thought. I'll be reminding him of it the next time something wacky happens to me and he gets frustrated. Not gonna lie...that happens too.

But here is my question...a great deal of that nasty water got into my mouth because I was laughing when it splashed me...Am I going to die? Do I need a shot?

If I die...I'll be really sad. I'm going to refuse to die. I'm just going to say no to death. That'll work...right?

Anyway...

That's where my nutshell is at the moment. Stay tuned tomorrow for a brief post about my weigh in and keep staying tuned for other adventures. I also have to own up to getting side tracked on working on This Is Not A Book, with the new job and all the insanity that has entailed I've been neglecting a few things. I'll post an update on that as well soon. I did a really fun one that I can't wait to share with you but it's not ready just yet for it.

As always, thanks for reading and spending time with me. 

Smooches!
Shelley

PS: Be sure to find me on Facebook here and follow me on Twitter @InANutShelley. You can also find me on Instagram as InANutShelley.