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I’ve not read the piece you recommend yet (going there next 😁) but this is one of the most lovely explanations I’ve seen to describe being introverted.

And it’s me too!

It’s taken me years to realise it as I had a chunk in the middle - uni/early work/running a people facing business - where what I was doing - plus alcohol at social events - masked what was really going on.

Now from my sober, post cancer and business owner writing place I can see what really recharges me and why.

Thank you 🙏🏻

And yes, write more in this. I don’t think it’s so either/or. Nothing in life is binary despite societal norms liking it that way.

I’m definitely going to dig into this more in my writing. I’ve touched on it already but without talking directly about introverted/extroverted labels , but it comes up as a concept quite a bit in my daily life.

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Thank you for your thoughtful response! I absolutely agree with you that alcohol completely masks what would usually set off “introvert alarms” as well. Apart from societal norms, there’s a reason I think people are encouraged to imbibe at certain social events. Get the introverts and folks with social anxiety talking haha.

Even something happening to me this year made me realize what it actually means to be introverted. I like to people watch, but I also like the ability to go into my own mind and what not freely. So, rather than going to a mall to write (no idea what I was thinking lol) I have been going to the library instead and goodness what a difference. Apart from also reading a ton more because of this, I also realized that I felt a lot more like myself in that calm place.

Figuring out what recharges us is so important. I think it changes over time, but I do wish I would have explored it more when I was younger. When I was in college I am not sure that tea and a book would hit the same way they do now haha.

I definitely plan on exploring this more. We should be willing to talk about this more often to also help others who may not understand what’s going on with them.

Thank you again for such a thoughtful comment, and for reading!

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You're welcome.

I could never work in a library at university. Best in my room alone. I found it really hard to work in an open plan office when I had corporate job many years ago. I think that is why I like writing so much as it needs me to go out and observer the world - nature & people, read, think and feel deeply about things then sit alone and write. Then have an interesting discussin with someone else about the topic :)

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Precisely. I think what I have realized now more than ever is that I need to do my intense social interactions in spurts. Something like a convention or family reunion aren’t necessarily daunting, but moving forward I will protect against burnout now that I know myself better.

I also love nature and to people watch so it’s easy for me to get out and about haha. Each provide great inspiration for me when it comes to writing. Honestly, if public parks had free WiFi, they might be my favorite writing spot 😂

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🙌🏻👏🏻👍🏻… this!

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Thank you for reading! 💜

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Extrovert/introvert are just labels used to put those who are not part of "normal" society into specific boxes. Screw society and its endless labeling of the non-conformists. You can be anything you want.

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