It only has value if you are sharing it
In 2013, I went to grad school after being in the workforce for 20 years. One of the first activities my classmates and I took part in was the Myers-Briggs assessment to determine the characteristics of our personalities. My test results labeled me as an introvert. Everyone else’s results noted an “E” for extrovert, which made me the black sheep of the class. This was not a total surprise; if given the chance after work, I prefer some quiet time at home to recharge the batteries, while the more gregarious among us might want to immediately enjoy the company of others. I have to make an effort to mix and mingle both in and out of work. It’s been easier knowing that learning about others can be one of the most gratifying parts of life.
There is a statement that, if one is willing to talk first, one will always have someone to talk to. Sometimes it is nice just to walk around the pools at my community center, say hello to the guards, and see who is swimming. Those who ask questions will eventually learn something amazing. For instance, I learned one of our regular swimmers, after high school, was at a Naval Air Station in Key West when a foreign fighter jet appeared on the radar, and shortly after on the horizon. Sirens went off and the base was on high alert. Eventually the jet landed on the runway and the pilot climbed out. After the alarms were silenced and guns lowered, it was discovered that the Russian MIG was piloted by a Cuban defecting from his country. Few people will ever get a chance to see that, and even fewer will hear the story.