My suitcase is full of books...

A lovely TED talk by Susan Cain.

When she described her grandfather's apartment, I was immediately transported to the farm. My Mema's house contained furniture and all the usual items necessary for human occupation, but this could not disguise its true purpose as a repository for books. Bookcases lined every room except the kitchen, and if you happened to peer inside any given closet, you would find bags overflowing with miscellaneous paperbacks. I remember sitting together but in solitude, reading for hours, only occasionally breaking the silence to compare notes on a story or relate a particularly amusing passage. Precious, happy hours, when I did not have to fight to hide my social awkwardness.
The interview process at INS made me painfully aware of my own introversion. I left Montreal feeling exhausted and drained, fearful that my lack of social grace might impede my career development. This talk was a much needed reminder that the other things I bring to the table are just as valuable as a loud and powerful voice.