Introverts and the Three Little Pigs: Happy National Pig Day

As both an introvert and a highly sensitive person I’ve been slow to get a new routine while my mom is visiting. But with my energy at an almost all time low, writing bubbled up to the top of my list. It seemed an appropriate day, National Pig Day in the USA. Whew. Here’s looking at those Three Little Pigs to get piggish about being more of an introvert. Which little pig are you?

“The first little pig built his house out of straw because it was the easiest thing to do.” Some who are more introverted go along day to day believing there must be truth to all the common criticisms of our type – we’re shy, aloof, anti-social and more. So going through the motions of a more extroverted society as we have in the USA is the easiest thing to do. Even with the ability to think these criticisms (myths) through, it’s often just easier to go along: party, network and push ourselves. Attending to who we really are and what we may need doesn’t fit in when you are on cruise control. I think I’ve been this first little pig at various times in my life, all to cause me problems. Remember how the straw house was the first one to get blown away by that wolf?

“The second little pig built his house out of sticks. This was a little bit stronger than a straw house.” This introvert person found some great ideas to help him move along more successfully in life. The thing is, while he didn’t just go along with the extrovert way, he learned how to act like an extrovert; you know – work a room, give a back-slapping and spiel all over you kind of networking elevator pitch. The seductiveness of it all. Without thinking things al the way through and acting on the little inside voice of warning, I can say, I was this pig for quite some time.

“The third little pig built his house out of bricks.” My kind of pig! Go Piggy! When it comes to business, he thinks through his strategy, and he listens even more so to his true inner guidance. In life in general he is regularly recharging his energy, as he is aware and respectful that it is what it is. He asserts himself by saying “No,” if needed. He plans for those required times of socializing – whether it’s a family reunion or an association meeting – with purposeful alone time before and after. It’s also a good idea to occasionally sneak in an unneeded trip to the restroom during activities with a good deal of extroverting. The wolf couldn’t blow down this house.

Even the moral of the nursery rhyme has wisdom for the introvert, “The way to get along in the world is to do things as well as you can.” Operative phrase is – as well as you can, not like someone else.

Be piggish today my introvert friend – it’s National Pig Day and the Three Little Pigs want to play. When that hungry wolf knocks and says, “Are you in?” just answer that you prefer to rest right now. Or do something creative to raise your energy – that was my choice. What’s yours?