Wasn’t in the Mood…and Thoughts on Being an Introvert

I was not in the mood to leave the house. Even some promising estate sales up weren’t tempting me. I just wanted to putter about in my leggings, with my ratty bed hair sipping my coffee, but I had four orders that needed to be dropped off at the post office so I had to pull myself together–at least minimally (jeans, mascara, pony tail).

Once I was out and about I thought I might as well drop into the neighborhood thrift store when it opens. But Jiminy Cricket it got crowded fast. I definitely wasn’t in the mood to deal with a lot of people–especially a lot of people with big carts clogging the aisles. Sigh.

But within the first five minutes I saw this antique print. I have sold a few 1800s English hand-colored engravings and this was easy to spot. Now granted it isn’t the most compelling image. Still it intrigued me. Titled “The Galilee West End of Durham Cathedral”, it was illustrated by Thomas Allom (1804-1872) and engraved by James Redaway (1797?-1859).

There was a companion piece to this engraving, but the print had become askew and the matting had water damage and was rippled. Decided to leave that one behind.

And this ceramic bird jumped out at me my third time down the ceramic aisle and when I flipped it over and saw “Howard Pierce” I was sure it was something good. Okay, it wasn’t Holt Howard (the company that created quirky, whimsical ceramics) or Simon Pearce (the fabulous glass maker), but I still thought Howard Pierce might be good.

Turns out his pieces have a bit of a following. This stylized dove in soft black with a speckled breast is mid-century modern and other than one tiny scratch is perfect.

Howard Pierce Ceramics or Howard Pierce Porcelain was the creation of Howard Pierce in the 1930s and continued to his death in 1994. His main medium was porcelain (clay, single firing), although he also worked in concrete, plastic, plaster, brass, pewter, drawings, and anything else he found around the house. Art was his life.

Howard Pierce Ceramics

So I was rather pleased with my two finds (paid $9.29 total). And that’s why I pop in my neighborhood thrift store an average of three times a week. Some days there’s nothing (many days there’s nothing) and then I’ll have a little run of good-find days! Living in a populated area (Silicon Valley) with some wealthy neighbors I know does make a difference in the quality of donations. And a few of the good bits actually make it to the shelves (rather than being put online). Of course I doubt the uber wealthy donate to Goodwill and we have quite a few of those too in Silicon Valley. Laurene Powell Jobs (billionaire wife of the late Steve Jobs) has a house just 3 miles from my neighborhood Goodwill (along with many other properties, compounds, a superyacht and private jets), but I don’t expect to see anything from her popping up in the store! Though to her credit she seems to be quite philanthropic and civic minded.

But I digress…

Truth be told, I try to have at least two days a week where I can stay at home. I am happier when I don’t always have to be on the go. Sometimes I am just not in the mood to deal with traffic and people in general. As I have gotten older I crave more alone time. By nature I am an introvert so it makes sense.

But what really, seriously, frosts me are the folks who believe introversion is a defect that needs to fixed. And yes, I have been told more than once in my life, “You need to become more of an extrovert.” Some folks interpret quietness for shyness or timidness, rather than thoughtfulness or politeness. (And what’s wrong with being a bit shy or reticent?)

But shy, I am not. When I have something to say, I’ll say it. And I can schmooze with the best of them…when I feel like it. Just today on my way home from church (after serving as a greeter as I do 2-3 times a month) I stopped into a grocery store. The guy in front of me was buying Oreo cookies. Just Oreo cookies. He glanced back at me as I was putting my items on the checkout belt and I said, “I see you’re getting just the essentials.” He laughed and admitted he was taking them to a nursing home. And for the next few minutes we had a delightful conversation. I love this kind of random connection, but I don’t need it all the time.

Introversion and extraversion are just the ways humans are wired. One is neither better or worse than the other and I think both are necessary for a healthy society.

There’s an interesting article on Insider about the pros and cons of each type. Here are some of the introvert traits listed in the article that fit me to a T:

• You find it easy to make alone time enjoyable and meaningful.
• You prefer smaller, more intimate gatherings.
• You need to internally process events for longer before sharing thoughts, feelings, and reactions with others.
• You tend to keep your schedule on the lighter side to avoid overstimulation.
• You have very close relationships with a smaller number of friends.

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So this is why I am not “in the mood” sometimes to face the outside world. But I am thankful to be at an age that I can do what is best for me and it no longer bothers me what other people think.

Blessings to all who have been made to feel “less than”,

Karen