Sometimes you just have to say thanks

This may be a bit of short and boring blog post but it's something that popped into my head on my drive into work this morning.

I was just absent-mindedly thinking about different things that I've been through in the past few years and I realized that I have a ton of friends.

Not in this conceited, "I'm so popular" kind of way, but throughout different points in my life I've met a lot of people and am really grateful to call most of them friends. Some of these people I never see or very seldom talk to but are people that I can still reach out at the drop of a hat and quickly catch up on life. 

It's also crazy to see how different our lives have gotten from when I first met people to now. Some friends are in these crazy awesome careers and kicking ass in them, some have moved across the country (or even world) and are experiencing all these new things, some are back in school, some are getting hitched or are hitched and some have kids. I don't think that any of us could have imagined that our lives would be where they are now (or maybe some of us did) from where it was when we met.

I honestly don't know where I'm going with this post - normally I have these better mapped out in my mind before I just start beating away at the keys. 

I think what I'm trying to say is thanks to all of you for sticking around. Thanks for the quick catch ups, the random pick me up text messages, the tagged Facebook posts and liked Instagram pictures. You don't realize how big of an impact it has on you until you really start thinking of all the people that you're able to call and talk to at any given time. So, guys, I guess it comes down to me saying thanks for being my friends. You guys rock, seriously.

Introverts can work in communications

This comes up so frequently in my life - people questioning my choice to work in communications because I happen to be an introvert. I can't tell you how many times I've been laughed at and teased for not wanting to do something outgoing and extroverted "because that's what I went to school for". I've compiled a list of the gems I come across the most often.

"What do you mean you don't like public speaking - you're in communications.."

Yes. I went to school for communications - I did not go to school for public speaking and theater. The very thought of having to not only speak in front of a large audience but be theatrical as well makes the introvert in me want to curl up under the table and cry.

Don't get me wrong, I love to communicate. If I'm comfortable with you, if I'm talking about something I'm passionate about you'd be hard pressed to get me to shut up. Public speaking and acting is a small part of communications. The reason I fell in love with PR/Comms is because I love creating. I love taking my ideas, other peoples, clients ideas and turning them into something tangible. I live for the feeling of being able to reach out into nothing and spin and create something.

"How can you be in communications if you hate people?"

I don't hate people.

I rather like people, not all people but most people, I just don't recharge being with people. The reason that I'm spending my Sunday night curled up on the couch with tea blogging alone? This is how I recharge. 

Being around people tends to wear me out, especially when those people are in large groups. This doesn't mean I hate being around people, this doesn't mean that I need to work in a job where I'm never around people, this just means I make sure that I take the time I need to recharge. 

"You have to be outgoing - you're in communications"

I am outgoing - in my own way to a point where I am comfortable. This is not a career specific trait.

It's not that I shy away from any and every single event that requires I be a bit outgoing. There are times where I will dive headfirst into things without a second thought, and there are times where I will stand wide-eyed in the corner waiting for death. This doesn't mean I'm bad at my job and this doesn't mean I hate what I'm doing. This just means that I'm not comfortable in every single situation.

"How good are you at communications if you're not outgoing?"

I am damn good.

While I may not be the first person out of the gate to present something, I am good at what I do. I love watching the things that I work hard on, the things that I pour my soul into come to fruition at the hands of extroverted people. I love watching someone entirely different from myself take something I've worked hard on add their spin on it. 

I feel like this mindset of you have to be extroverted to be in communications exists to cheapen the work of introverted communications people. I think that people easily forget this spectrum of introverted/extroverted and thinker/doer. You can be both or one or the other or everything all at the same time. Being an introvert isn't a bad thing or something that you should work get over. It's not a flaw - it's how you are and who you are. Embrace it!

"You need to step outside your comfort zone!"

I do. 

I'm constantly stepping outside my comfort zone on an almost-daily basis. Just because I'm not the star of every presentation or conversation doesn't mean that I'm hiding in my comfort bubble. 

Just because I don't grab every opportunity in an extroverted way doesn't mean that I'm refusing to put myself out there. I think that people forget that there isn't an acceptable level of putting yourself out there. There isn't a clearly defined comfort zone that's acceptable for everyone. If you want someone to participate then put the option out there and don't force it. It's never fun or a good time when someone continues to push and push and push for you to do something you don't want to.