Where You Rise, I'll Follow Pt. 2

Part 2 is here at last, with part 3 soon to follow!! This part contains a vague reference to Deadpool, who, if you're not familiar with Marvel, is a deadly anti-hero. He's frowned upon by most government institutions. He also has plenty of guns. : )

The Avengers arrived back at the Tower, laughing. “So,” Tony giggled, “Why did you choose Deadpool’s form? You could’ve been arrested!”

Shadow smiled, “Deadpool has lots of guns. Guns are good for shooting gigantic mutant rabbits! And even if I was arrested, Fury would’ve gotten me out. I swear I’m like his pet or something!”

                Amid all of the chaos of fighting the strange villains that loved to attack New York, Shadow found herself becoming great friends with the Avengers. Natasha loved having another lady living full time in the Tower. They’d sit and watch movies on Tony’s tremendous television and laugh at the men and the situations they got themselves in. More than once, Clint and Thor came home stuck together after fighting some crazy glue-based villain. Another time, Steve and Tony came home with Cap’s shield embedded in the Iron Man armor after Steve threw at a bad angle.

                Shadow would spend time with Clint, pranking Tony. She’d teach Thor and Steve about computers. She became Tony’s guinea pig, testing all of the new gear he created for Stark Industries. But most of all, she spent time with Bruce. The pair would hole up in a lab and pore over lab reports. Bruce would try to explain and Shadow would try to understand. Bruce became Shadow’s best friend. She even told him her real name.

“Karmin,” she said, “I try not to tell people my name because then they realize who I was.”

“The assassin,” Bruce whispered.

“Yes,” she replied, “But that’s not me anymore. I’m not some Hydra drone, I’ve changed. No one but Fury seems to see that.”

“I can tell you’ve changed,” Bruce offered, “I know what it’s like to have a monster inside. I know what it’s like to have to pay for something you never intended to do.”

Shadow smiled, “Thanks, Bruce.”

Bruce blushed red, and smiled, “So, do you want to go for coffee with me sometime?”

“Why would we go out?” she replied, “Tony’s got enough coffee at the Tower to satisfy a small army.”

Bruce’s smile faded. “It wouldn’t be as special if we stayed here” he said.

                Shadow, her head cocked in confusion, “Wait. D… did you just ask me out?”

Bruce hung his head and nodded. “In that case,” she grinned, “Let’s get out of here!” Grabbing him by the wrist, she dragged him out of the lab.

Quiet by Susan Cain

            I found Quiet to be extremely interesting! I haven't the time to finish reading it, but the part I have read was very informative. Using historical information and scientific studies to back her arguments, Mrs. Cain presents the stark differences between introverts and extroverts, and the actual impact these differences can cause in schools, workplaces, and in personal situations. I highly recommend this book if you're at all interested in psychology. It's a little brainy for leisure reading, but it would make a good source for a school paper.

 

       I received this book for free in exchange for review from WaterBrook Multonomah.

Below is a Q&A between Mrs. Cain and various bloggers:

What would be your advice for living with a spouse who is an introvert? Particularly ways to solve disputes when only one side is willing to do any talking!

This is such an important question (and I address it at length in the chapter in QUIET on introvert-extrovert relationships). Introverts and extroverts are often attracted to each other as marriage partners (for good reason), but they have dramatically different approaches to conflict. Extroverts are what psychologists call “confrontive copers,” while introverts tend to seek to defuse conflict. The problem is that the more extroverts confront their introverted partners, the more aggressed the introverts feel – and the more they withdraw, leaving their extroverted partners feeling shut out in the cold. On the other hand, the more that introverts try to defuse conflict with quiet talk, the more vehement their extroverted partners grow in response – causing introverts to feel insulted or attacked.

The only way out of this impasse is for each partner to truly understand where the other is coming from, and to borrow the other’s coping style. For an extrovert, this means airing grievances as quietly, mildly, and respectfully as you can. And for introverts, this means engaging head on with problems, even when this feels threatening and unpleasant. Good luck, it’s worth it!

How do you classify someone who prefers their own company and activities they can do by themselves, but has forced themselves to act in a more extroverted way? I enjoy being alone and love reading and creative writing. However, in order to promote and build my dental practice, I have made myself participate in community activities, and in order to be a more active part of my childrens' lives I am part of a group of parents that work and play together. I even enjoy these activities, all the while thinking that I'd rather be home alone with my husband and kids, curled up by a toasty fire with a good book or sharing a movie with them. Have I remade myself into an extrovert or just putting on an act?

It sounds like you’re an introvert who’s gotten really good at acting like a pseduo-extrovert – and nothing wrong with that, if it serves goals that matter to you (your dental practice, your kids’ social life.) Just make sure to get the quiet time you need – and that your family probably needs, too.

What do extraverts need to understand most about introverts?

When they don’t engage animatedly with you, this doesn’t mean that they don’t like or love you! They just need to recharge their batteries frequently, and might be less demonstrative than you are. Look for signs of quiet passion!

As an extrovert married to an introvert, how can I make his social experiences more satisfying and less stressful?

What a great and caring question. Well, for one thing, make sure there aren’t too many of them. No introvert enjoys going out night after night…but they might really enjoy the right social events in measured doses. The best experiences tend to be with close friends, or based on events that are of intrinsic interest – eg a movie, a concert, etc.

How do you see introverts having any type of an impact on our predominately extrovert society?

They already do! Many of our finest leaders and artists have been introverts. It’s usually a matter of making your own natural strengths work for you (for example, the Campbell Soup CEO Doug Conant was famous for writing 30,000 personal notes of thanks to high-performing employees) while gaining the skills you need to fake extroversion when you need to.

Also, social media is an introvert’s friend – it’s a way of connecting with tens, hundreds, thousands of people from the comfort of your own home or office.