On the ninth day of Christmasmy true love gave to me
No public speaking
Close friends connecting
Plenty time for napping
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…
No public speaking doesn’t really need any explanation on a blog full of introverts. However, I’m going to put out a plea for all the introverted children out there in the world and make a couple of requests. One is the whole Santa thing that Mary alluded to a few days ago. For introverted children, having to get up in Santa’s lap and TALK to this perfect stranger, usually IN FRONT OF other perfect strangers can be the 6 year old equivalent of public speaking.
And secondly, the whole "let’s everybody watch each kids open their presents one gift at a time while twenty relatives watch" thing. I understand that this comes from the desire to not have four weeks worth of shopping and eight hours worth of wrapping over with in four minutes. I get that. But I also so clearly remember how painful it was. Oh the pressure! All those eyes on me! What if I didn’t have the right expression of gratitude on my face! What if it was something I hated—could I pretend well enough to fool everyone?
Surely you’re beginning to see the similarities between some of these traditions and public speaking…
And, because no introvert wants to win anything that has to do with public speaking, today’s winner wins a signed copy of Jane Porter’s Ms Perfect! (Jane is an SVP blog reader.) And the drumroll please . . . Number 100 – Julie Layne!
You know the drill, Julie. Email me and I’ll get your book in the mail!
11 comments:
Lord, yes! The dreaded slo-mo present opening ritual. I forgot what an ouch that was. We celebrated Xmas here in Texas last night and they employ the "Ready-set-go!" model which was joyous mayhem. There were two of us IVs here that were relishing the privacy of opening of our gifts with no one paying attention to us.
Fa-la-LAAAA!
Mary
Joyous mayhem. I like that! (Not to mention it sounds like it should be the name of a great perfume or siren-red lipstick!)
That's why I hate Secret Santa. EVERYBODY wants to watch each person open their present, and they're not just watching YOU open YOUR present, they're watching (and judging) what YOU bought for YOUR person. Ugh.
I'm currently signed up for a public speaking class next semester. Which I may have to drop out of, as it may now conflict with a class required for my major... I'll try not to be too relieved.
Whee! I won something! Thanks so much.
Huh, I must be one of the few introverted people in the world who enjoys the one-present-at-a-time ritual--and I just asked my daughter, who is quite introverted herself, and she says she likes the one-present-at-a-time ritual, too! (She's 11 and reading over my shoulder.)
I think sometimes the joyous mayhem can be a little overwhelming for some of us quieter folks, but I can also see your point!
I don't mind the one-at-a-time method, either. I like to take my time opening presents (I don't remember how frantic I wanted to open them when I was younger, but I've never been frantic, ever). I may have blocked out my experiences with the mall santas, though. I don't recall that at all. ~grins~
I actually don't mind the one-at-a-time present ritual when it's just the immediate family--parental units and kids. It's when there are all those Other Adult Relatives watching that I got (get) all clammy-palmed.
That's true. Maybe my mother is a little introverted, too. I don't recall her subjecting us to the horde of Other Adult Relatives, except perhaps when I was too young to remember. Holidays in my family have been more intimate for many a year.
Oh, AMEN. I always am amazed at the whole Santa thing anyway -- don't talk to strangers I was fine with. DO talk to this large man with the fake hair... about your deepest wishes? Um...
It really IS public speaking. Even some small children sort of freeze when all the adults in the room look at them -- albeit adoringly. It's just too much! And there's enough of that going around this time of year... I'm sort of awful with my young sibs, but I don't even give them gifts on The Day anymore; I just slip them to them throughout the week between Christmas and New Year's, so they can open at will. I don't know if *they* care, but it's less pressure on all parties if no one has to watch their expressions -- or see them!
Wow, what a great older sibling you are, TadMack! I love that idea, you sneaky Santa you.
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