Sunday afternoon I was bored so decided to go see a movie at 1:45 in the afternoon. I didn't even ask anyone to go cause it was a totally spur of the moment decision.
I saw Absolutely Fabulous. Oh my goodness - it was hilarious. Cheeky, British humor - it is based on a popular sitcom from the 90s. Incredibly shallow but an entertaining, light weight Sunday afternoon escape.
https://cdn.amctheatres.com/m/Trailers/223811_med.mp4
Synopsis
Appropriate for their big screen debut, Edina and Patsy (Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley) are still oozing glitz and glamour, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London's trendiest hotspots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more!
I enjoy going to movies by myself on occasion. I can go to whatever showing I want, sit where I want, sit through the credits if I want.
I like to do things on my own. Pretty much everything except dinner. I have tried it a couple of times but just don't feel comfortable. I will, however, go to my favorite coffee shop to sit and read the paper or a book. I LOVE to hike by myself - that is the best way for me to totally connect with nature and I prefer to go to museums, craft fairs, and shopping alone.
There are other things I enjoy doing with friends more than alone - dinner in a nice restaurant or a concert. Going for a drink and dinner is a great way to catch up with my girlfriends. My daughter - who is a total extrovert, can't understand why in the world I would WANT to go alone and do anything. She always wants people around her. I have never been that way.
Reading this, I sound like I don't like people or I am anti-social. I'm not at all - but I AM an introvert in the truest sense of the word. I interact with people all day long at work but do require my alone time to recharge and truly immerse myself into whatever I am doing. I prefer one on one or a small group of friends over parties or mixers where I don't know many people. I am not a good "mingler" and having to make small talk with strangers gives me anxiety.
I find that if I am with someone else I tend to "worry" whether or not they are having a good time. That keeps me from fully enjoying whatever it is. I know i am not responsible for other people's happiness or their experience, but I am a "pleaser" so I am always thinking like that. Of course, that can be exhausting. I have gotten better about that as I have gotten older.
Even when I have been in a relationship, there are just some things I prefer to do alone. A lot of the movies I want to see are considered "chick flicks" and the man in my life just wasn't interested so I'd still go by myself. I have never been one to miss out on something if I didn't have someone to do it with.
I absolutely love living alone. I have all of the "me" time I require and I can get out and connect with friends and family whenever I want to or need to.
How about you? Are you an introvert or extrovert? Do you feel comfortable going to a movie, dinner or other events alone?
I am a true introvert. We have a member in our extended family who is very nice but is so extroverted that at times she gets on my very last nerve when I am around her for too long. I have always been happier being on the fringe rather than in the midst of things. I can go to the movies by myself but it takes a great deal of effort to eat out alone.
ReplyDeleteBeing on the fringe -- that is a great way to put it. I definitely prefer to be an observer rather than in the midst as well. I also understand what you mean about extroverts getting on your nerves. I can only take them in small doses.
DeleteSister, I am with you. I love my friends. I love my family. But I have to have my alone time. And, most importantly, it no longer bothers me that people think I'm strange for it - because they are the same people that love me when I am recharged.
ReplyDeleteSo true -- my family, especially, knows I am no fun when I hit that saturation point and need my alone time to recharge!
DeleteI think you might find most bloggers are introverts, to varying degrees of course.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I taught Myers Briggs for a consulting firm and learned I was a moderate introvert. The hardest part about being an introvert is people interpret that as being anti-social, but that's not it at all. It may be for some, but for most it's simply not true. We just re-energize by being alone.
One thing I don't enjoy doing alone is going to the movies, but I love to shop alone. I find if I'm with someone I can't truly relax. Probably has a lot to do with what you said about wondering if they're ok.
I suppose it's a good thing I'm somewhat of an introvert. Living in the boonies would be torture if I wasn't! lol
xxx
Ha! Good point about living in the boonies. I have lived in apartments and condos and am much happier in a house with a private yard where I can sit outside and not be right next to someone else. I never enjoyed having roommates either.
DeleteI am a new follower, and an introvert, also!! All of my working life I was a Trainer, and stood in front of large groups or did one-on-one trainings and always said every evening when I got home that all I wanted to do was stare at a wall. When I did some research on a training session and realized I am an introvert, everything fell into place. When I tell people that, they don't understand how I could have done my job! As you said, it doesn't mean we are anti-social, but we need time to recharge completely, and we cherish our alone time. Now that I am retired, I realize the stress I was feeling every day due to my job...even though I did love what I did. I am married to an extrovert, and after 44 years, we know what we each need in terms of time and space. It all works!!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Chris! Wow -- I totally understand about how you wanted to just go home and stare at the wall after being in front of people all day. My profession was a benefits manager and part of my job was to give benefits orientations to groups of employees. It was so stressful for me and, like you, I needed to totally remove myself and be alone to recharge afterwards. I enjoyed my job but I wasn't fueled by interacting with people all day long - I was drained. I imagine your husband balances you out and vice versa. You must be doing something right to have been together 44 years! That is awesome! Thanks for your comment!
DeleteI am an introvert, too! Like someone else said, I think you will find that most bloggers/writers are introverts. If you're familiar with the Myers Briggs test, I am an INFJ. My husband is also an introvert, and so is our son. A lot of people think being an introvert means that you're shy, but that isn't true. I'm actually very friendly and chatty with other people (NOT in groups though - I totally freeze in groups) and so is my son. My husband is very shy, along with being introverted.
ReplyDeleteI need a ton of alone time and when I don't get it, I become very crabby! Have you ever read the book, Quiet by Susan Cain? Wonderful book for us introverts.
Good point about being shy vs. being an introvert. I'm not shy either but, like you, there are certain situations, like groups that make me uncomfortable. I am an ISFJ. Yes - I have read Quiet -- it is a wonderful book. Also - The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney. The most interesting thing I learned is that introvert and extrovert brains are actually wired differently. Fascinating! God wired us differently to bring balance into the world. It takes all kinds!
DeleteI don't mind going to dinner alone, but I'd rather go with a friend and catch up. The main thing I DON'T like to do alone is travel - for me, it's as much sharing the experience as anything.
ReplyDeleteDinner is good to catch up with friends. I enjoy going on short road trips by myself, but there are some trips and places that are best shared with someone.
DeleteGood Morning, When I take the Myers Briggs test --I always end up on the line between being an introvert as opposed to an extravert. BUT---even though I come across as an extravert, I truly am not. Like you, I interact well with people and always have. BUT---I HAVE to have my alone time. In 2001 I married a REAL introvert... I'm the one who does all of the talking when we are with others... He's a wonderful man and I adore him, but he makes me be the extravert when others are around. Here in the house, we can go for hours doing our own thing and that seems to make both of us happy.
ReplyDeleteBefore I married George, I had been divorced for almost 20 years. I had a good friend (actually several good friends) that I socialized with. BUT-like you, I didn't mind going to a movie alone if I had to.
Sounds like your life is PERFECT in so many ways...
Hugs,
Betsy
Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Betsy! I have enjoyed discovering your blog and reading about the adventures you and George have together! You seem to be a very well rounded person who enjoys life to the fullest!
DeleteI just discovered your blog today and so many things you've posted I can totally relate to! This is one of them. I'm a TOTAL introvert also.. and used to be very very shy when I was a little girl. Better now but still like being "on the fringes" and not ever the center of attention. I can relate to everyone's post here. I NEED my alone time.. I don't just "like" it, I "need" it.. as all introverts do. My son is one also and has trouble with his relationships with the ladies as they are usually extroverts for some reason (I think we introverts are somewhat drawn to extroverts to add a little spice to our life!)... as if he doesn't get his alone time, he also gets crabby and cranky. I like people, in fact are fascinated at what makes people tick.... and can do really well with one-on-one time. That's what I love.. but not good in a group.. I just kind of fade into the background. I'm also a real homebody and love being home and in my "nest". I also LOVE doing most things alone.... I go with "me, myself and I" and we get along famously and enjoy each other's company.. and can do what we want, when, how and where. I don't usually even like going anywhere with my sister or a friend, as I feel like I have to kind of go with what they want to do, and not what I want to do. I don't mind going out to eat alone either.. take a good book and just melt into my own little world.. but yes agree that dinner is a little harder to pull off. I haven't done a movie alone but have wanted to do that, as my little town has a movie theater and during the week, is pretty empty! My current hubby is quite an introvert also and a homebody and we too can spend all day at home each in our own little space, and be pretty content. I am probably MORE of an extrovert than he is! Take care and I'll continue reading your other posts and commenting if I feel the urge!
ReplyDeleteAnd I also agree with Doreen at Fox Den Rd. that I think alot of bloggers are introverts! We like "friends" but friends at a distance who don't intrude on our space!
ReplyDeleteYou put it very succinctly! I really am interested in people and enjoy people but I NEED my alone time or I get cranky as well. I even go so far as take my own car when I go places with friends a lot of times so I can leave if and when I am ready. My husband was an introvert but we have been divorced 25 years and I had a tendency to date more extroverted men when I was dating. Now, I am at a point in life where I enjoy being home alone but can get out with my friends when I feel like it and I like that freedom! Sounds like you and your husband are good about accepting the need for your own space. That is awesome!
DeleteThat is so funny about taking your own car to places! I do the same thing! I want to be able to "escape" if I want to and leave when I want to! I think it took awhile for my hubby to understand my NEED for space and alone time. He's finally come to accept it and has also learned, I think, to enjoy his alone time also.. and realizes when he's in that zone, he doesn't have to pay attention to my "honey do" lists! I've learned not to interrupt him, but he continues to interrupt me which I do kind of resent! It takes alot of compromising, that's for sure.
DeleteI am so happy to know that you liked this movie! These women are very funny Brits and my husband and I wanted to see the movie but we missed it. So glad you enjoyed it. Love that Brit humour!
ReplyDeleteHA! Spelled that the British way!
I have always loved Brit humour -- dry and irreverent! Thanks for visiting my blog!
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