1. I often experience a kind of sinking feeling when I arrive at a social gathering, especially a large gathering. I wouldn’t describe it as anxiety; I would describe it as dreading the performance. If that feeling could speak, it would say, “Ugh. Here we go again. Time to smile and pretend I want to be here…” when all I really want to do is curl up on my couch with a good book and be left alone. 
2. I am extremely particular about who I share my time with and on what terms.
3. I see no reason to apologize or make excuses for not socializing when I am not in the mood to do so.
4. I consider it an extraordinary gift to spend time with someone who makes me feel rejuvenated, happy, and light. These kinds of interactions are treasures and they are rare.
5. Reading people is an art, and it’s my experience that most people aren’t very adept at it.
6. I have roughly three personalities. One is reserved for people I like; the second is for people I don’t like; the third is for everyone else.
7. If I don’t like you, you’ll know. 
8. I rely very heavily on my intuition when it comes to assessing other people, and I pay attention to detail. Among the biggest red flags for me are subtle signs of disrespect. If I notice subtle signs of disrespect from another person—whether intentional or unintentional—especially across repeated interactions, we are not going to be friends.
9. Nonverbal communication is greatly undervalued. The kind of companionship that can deepen in silence is a rare gift, indeed.
10. I consider myself good company, and I am never bored when I am alone. 
11. My inner world is and always has been more vivid and decidedly more interesting to me than the outer world. As a child, I used to get in trouble at school for being a daydreamer. I am happy to say that hasn’t changed.
12. I cherish being alone with my thoughts, even when those thoughts are negative. Being alone gives me time to discern how I am feeling and why. 
13. I am easily exhausted by other people, especially people who don’t know when to stop talking.
14. I mentally check out of most social interactions long before my physical departure.
15. The older I get, the less willing I am to adopt a charming or gregarious persona in social situations. I’d rather be myself, even if that means being a bit aloof. It’s a lot less work.
16. I have a tendency to observe people for a long time before speaking.
17. If someone shows up at my home unannounced, the result is something like a mix of horror and sheer panic. And there is always a chance I will hide rather than answer the door, even if I like the person. It’s nothing personal.
18. I cherish long talks with trusted friends; although, I don’t necessarily need to have those talks often. 
19. An hour or two (max) at a party or other large gathering is enough for me. After that, I am more than ready to go home and unwind in peace and quiet. It baffles my mind that most people like to linger.
20. My home is my sanctuary.
21. There are a lot of people who are so focused on talking about themselves that they never take the time to learn about the person they’re talking to. 
22. My phone is always on silent. The reason for this is simple: I like to be in control of my availability, and I am not always available. I also hate when my solitude or creative time are unnecessarily disrupted. When I feel like looking at my phone to see if someone has called or texted, then I will. If there are special circumstances that require I turn the ringer on, then I will. Otherwise, silent is the default setting.
23. Social interaction, for many people, is a form of competition. What a tremendous waste of time and energy! 
24. To the keen listener, most people have something to prove. Even simple interactions often contain clues about what another person is trying to prove about themselves. This is one of the most basic and pervasive patterns in a person.
25. I don’t share anything about myself with people who I perceive to be exceedingly self-absorbed, fake, or uninterested in anything besides listening to themselves talk. Why? Because I know they wouldn’t value what I have to say, and I think I deserve better than that.
26. I wasn’t always as particular, or discerning, about other people as I am now. Life experience plays a big role here. Over the years, I have learned to trust my judgment and my intuition more and more. When I see signs that a person is not worthy of being allowed into my inner world, I trust those signs.

Click here for Confessions of an Introvert, Part I.

Also, on the topic of introverts…she’s 100% right.