Sociability. What is it?
Some say: Agreeability.
Which means.....?
The ability to interact and get along with most people.
The ability to feel comfortable and confident
when mixing with others.
The ability to interact in a friendly and comfortable
manner with new people.
The ability to communicate well(effectively)
with others by using a conscious choice of
words, body-language and facial expressions.
Sociability, as far as I can ascertain, is a highly
valued skill/ability in most cultures/societies.
Why is it so?
Because our ability to interact with others, to organize, plan,
imagine and visualize events and things collectively
plays an important part in the continued
progress of mankind.
Some suggest that sociability/agreeableness, is a
personality trait that is often displayed by extraverted
people.
In other words, the ability to ''mix and mingle''
with others may often come easier for people born
with ''extraverted genes'' than for people
born with ''introverted genes''.
Having been told by a number of people that I am
an ''introvert'' have made me look up the word in many
dictionaries and more often than not, compared to
extroverts...... us introverts don't come out too ''good''.
(''Extroverts are good at sociability whereas introverts
are not. Extroverts are agreeable but introverts more
''loner'' types''.)
My own observation is that some people(extrovert) seem to
enjoy and get energized when around a bunch of people.
Some other people(introvert) seem to need to spend some time
alone after spending enjoyable time in large-ish groups.
According to some research done by those in the know,
most of us are ''ambiverts''.
(A bit of both extro and introvert)
That is, sometimes we get energized by socializing,
sometimes we get energized by ''lone'' time.
Some of us have times when we prefer some solitude
and reflection rather than socializing.
Some of us prefer to socialize and interact with others
and only ponder deeper thoughts if or when an unexpected
opportunity suddenly presents itself.
Socializing can mean many different things.
It can be done many different ways.
It can be done in person or through a screen.
Through the written word (texting) or spoken
word(sms-ing).
It can be done through an avatar or a ''catfish'', troll
or anonymous bully.
Many of us probably prefer to socialize some way or another
rather than spending time alone. Especially these days when
there is often an unspoken but known stigma and
prejudice attached to preferring one's own company
rather than ''hanging out'' with friends
or spending time on social media platforms etc. etc.
Solitude seem to often be understood as meaning loneliness
although solitude is a chosen state of mind whereas loneliness
is often an unwelcome emotional state.
''Loneliness is the poverty of self;
solitude is the richness of self.''
(Mary Sarton)
If being on our own fills us with dread
and seeking comfort in all the wrong places,
maybe now is a good time to find a
quiet, solitaire place and listen to the voice
of our inner selves.
''Solitude is not so much the absence of company
as it is an opportunity.
A chance to discover
the richness,
the joy,
the fullness of life abundantly.''
(Citizen Z)
*
The above image is a sketch I call ''the Tramp''.
Sometimes I just visualize people and faces
out of nowhere.
Often with stories that accompany them.
I don't know where ''it'' comes from, it just
shows up and if I'm lucky I have pen and
paper handy.
This man, this Tramp, is neither lonely nor
anti-social. He's a man who knows who he is
and where he is going although he may
look a bit worse for wear.
Thought:
It can be easy to judge a book by its cover.
To forget that precious pearls lay beneath
a cover I bet none of us
would call a beauty.
