My name is Lee Ann Lambert. I’ve called myself an introvert activist in the past, and I suppose that’s as good a description for what I’m doing here as any.

My goal is to help educate the public about introversion, and to share some of my life (mostly the introverted aspects of it) with other introverts and interested parties. Being introverted can be so darned difficult, and yet, there are some things about it that are really, really cool.

But many of us find that the societies and cultures we live in are very extrovert oriented – extroversion is prized – and introversion is considered to be a liability.

The truth is that both introversion and extroversion have much to offer as personality styles, and bottom line, this is not an aspect of personality that can be changed willfully. You can’t become an extrovert if you’re an introvert and vice versa.

So here I am and here’s where I came from:

I was a quiet and “shy” child (I’ve never been shy, but that was one of many labels given me), and I preferred the company of one or two good friends or my cats, to scads of screaming, running kids (what the heck were they screaming about and why wouldn’t they just settle down a little?). I did not adjust well to school.

As I grew up, I knew that I was supposed to be social and act like I wanted to always be around others, going and doing and being. So I did. I hated it and often wondered what was wrong with me. When I hid myself away for some peace and quiet, others wondered what was wrong with me.

Somewhere around the age of 40 (a magical turning point), I took the MBTI and discovered that I am an introvert.

Somewhere around the age of 44, I finally started to do some research, first reading The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney, and then everything else I could get my hands on.

And now, finally, I’m a pretty well-adjusted introvert, although I’ll readily admit that it still isn’t always easy.

I have a few good friends, a husband, kids and grandkids. I have a mom and siblings, too. These people pretty much make up my social and support circle, and I’m fine with that.

Currently, I work as a freelance writer, and have authored a book, Living Introverted: Learning to Embrace the Quiet Life Without Guilt. The book is being revised a bit, so as of January, 2010, you’ll be hard pressed to find a copy. It will be ready for sale again in February, 2010.

I can be contacted at livingintroverted at gmail.com.