Life as an Introvert

Connections

For me, living as an introvert (recently described as an extreme introvert) means my contacts with people are even more—not less—important.

I discovered in my librarian days that continual contact with the public was too much, and that no contact was far too little. Which is why, in retirement, I enjoy my peaceful writing time only because I also have outside contacts. COVID lockdown made grocery trips, zoom meetings, outdoor tai chi sessions, and family phone calls of über importance.

Why I write

I learn best through stories. Any science or history takes on a greater reality if seen through some kind of narrative.

A shy child learns empathy through reading about others’ experiences and feelings. Especially feelings! It’s difficult to identify my own feelings if deluged with other people’s. By telling myself stories, I can find out what I feel. By writing out those stories, I can stand back and examine them. 

The fear of making mistakes

From the time we brought Sophie home from Animal Humane, I’ve recognized our similarities. She was so in need of belonging, and so afraid of making mistakes, that she had several accidents.

My gentle husband took charge of getting her outside and eventually she settled in.

I swear Sophie has an imagination too. The way she plays with her toys—and never destroys them. One day while we were in the kitchen, she dashed around and around. Out of sight in the living room she would pause and make strange noises, then pick it up and run past us again.