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12 Things Every Introvert Wishes You Understood. Sympathetic articles, books and lectures aside, introverts -- or those with the so-called "quiet" personality type -- may still feel misunderstood in a society that champions extrovert traits like non-stop connectedness.

12 Things Every Introvert Wishes You Understood

We rounded up expert insight and responses from The Huffington Post's social communities on the biggest sources of misunderstanding for introverts. Below are just a few things they wished everyone grasped about the personality type. Photo Credit: Jasper James via Getty Images 1. They don't hate a good party. What can be so grating about large gatherings is the overstimulation and unsatisfying conversations. "Let's clear one thing up: Introverts do not hate small talk because we dislike people," she wrote. 2. "Just because nine times out of 10, I decline your invitation, does not mean I want you to stop inviting me," said reader Carolyn Mae Ladas on Facebook. 3. 4. 5. ...But yes, they'll give you a hug. 6. 7. ...Or stuck up, for that matter. 8. 9. Beth Ditto On 'Skinny Privilege,' Her Fiancee And Making Things 'A Lot F-ing Easier' For Other Plus-Size Women.

Beth Ditto is the singer-songwriter frontwoman of indie band Gossip, an author (of her new memoir, "Coal To Diamonds," a lesbian and a soon-to-be married lady.

Beth Ditto On 'Skinny Privilege,' Her Fiancee And Making Things 'A Lot F-ing Easier' For Other Plus-Size Women

She's also our latest hero. In a recent interview with The Advocate, 31-year-old Ditto, who is somewhat famous in the United States and mega-famous in Europe, was very open about what's been hard in her life. She's the product of an impoverished childhood in Arkansas, which she said had lasting impact on her. Her mother became pregnant before she even graduated high school -- something which Ditto told The Advocate isn't unusual in her hometown: Women in Judsonia never had a break to catch their breath or to ask themselves what the hell happened.… Young women pull a bunch of children into the world behind them, without a rest for their brains or their bodies or their hearts.

And then the conversation turned to her weight. No, I Won't Be Losing Weight for My Wedding  By Alex Blank Millard for xoJane "So," says the woman standing in front of me at the deli counter at the café close to my house, "I couldn't help but overhear you are getting married?

No, I Won't Be Losing Weight for My Wedding 

" Meh, I used to work at this café, I've seen her around, no harm in talking. "Oh yeah, in August. " "Oh how exciting! " She says, and she smiles so bright I'm caught up and feel my cheeks stretch too. I got him a ring too! "So," she lowers her voice a bit, "are you going to lose weight for the wedding? " Oh, this again. 10 Things You MUST Know About Relationships  Life has a way of answering questions you didn't even ask.

10 Things You MUST Know About Relationships 

As I lean upon my 40th birthday and reflect upon my adult life so far, I find this to be especially true when it comes to relationships. From being the recipient and the perpetrator of heartbreak, to cyclically selecting the wrong type, to over expectation, to self-doubt, to romantic bliss... the list is seemingly endless on the ways I have grown in my understanding of relationship dynamics. While I'm sure there is still plenty of room for self-sabotage and reflective growth, this is a list of 10 nuggets of wisdom I am happy to have shaped from my experiences thus far. I share this with the hope it will resonate with some of you, maybe even help; these are messages I have found in the mess. Healthy relationships come from within. Heartbreak may mean the end of a relationship, but it's not the end of love. When entering into a personal relationship, be honest from the start. 17 Ways You Can Improve Your Relationship With Your Body. Yes, I'm A Bearded Lady; No, I'm Not "Grateful" For Your Attention.

“I actually like women who look like you.”

Yes, I'm A Bearded Lady; No, I'm Not "Grateful" For Your Attention

How do I begin to explain what is wrong with that statement? How do I tell a generation of women, pumped full of conditioning that tells them—beauty is the rubric and romance is your reward—that there is no second place and there is no consolation prize when it comes to self-worth? How do I convince you that turning down adverse advances is not unwarranted entitlement? That no one deserves settling for what they can get? How do I assert that no one who chooses to live out loud is “asking for it?” However, there is an expectation among people like me whose appearance is deemed “othered.” Hang on to it, and do your best not to fuck it up, because you’re lucky you’re getting any affection at all. And that stuck. 1. Or 2. And I have sad news for all the fetishists and “chasers” of the world: both of those statements are two sides of the same goddamned coin.

Tackling Vile Statement #1 brings to light the important topic of consent. Stop comparing yourself to others. Carving out a career in the creative industries can be tough: there’s no definite road map to success and often no concrete pay cheque at the end of the day.

Stop comparing yourself to others

Coupled with this, we live in an increasingly voyeuristic world, with our peers blasting their success all over social media. This doubt and jealousy can often lead us down the ugly path of comparison: “the thief of joy” as Theodore Roosevelt once wisely called it. Here’s our guide to breaking the cycle. Don’t try to be Britney Put things into perspective. Have a relativity check As much as you’re obsessively checking your friends’ status updates and fantasising about how your life will be when your career looks like that actor/writer/designer/director you admire, someone else is comparing their life to yours. The root of unhappiness is comparing your internal world to someone else’s external.

Rethink how you measure success Allow the parameters of your success to be flexible and positive. #workingonmyself.