I've always known I'm an introvert to the core. Give me a couple hours alone, with or without a book or a nap, and I'll come back full of life.
Not to say I don't like people. A coffee date with a friend or speaking in front of a group is life-giving to me too. But not in the same way -- I still need that alone space even after invigorating interactions with people.
That's how I know I'm an introvert and not an extrovert.
But something I've realized in the last few months that I'd never considered before: I'm a verbal processor.
It struck me after a long conversation with a friend who identified as one. We talked through some hard things, and while I was exhausted and wanted my alone time afterward, at the same time my head also felt much much clearer than it had before our conversation.
Apparently you can still learn new things about yourself even when you're 40.
It makes sense, considering how beneficial journaling is for me and how overwhelmed my brain gets when I haven't had a date with my husband or coffee with a friend in awhile.
And it's why I keep coming back to writing.
I'm not making any sort of "I'm back!" announcement, or even giving any sort of "here's what I hope to accomplish in this online space". All I can say is I'll be playing around with words again on my website, here on my Substack newsletter, and on Instagram. Maybe I'll post the exact same thing in all three places. Maybe I'll find different things for each.
But I've realized my brain needs a place to put words together, or else I'll go crazy. :)
Are you an introvert or extrovert? How about a verbal processor? Leave a comment and let me know!
(This post was inspired by Kate and Five Minute Friday. This week's word prompt "realize" was a great one!)
That's why I identify with you so often, Carrie! I feel like I'm a verbal processor most days, BUT I cannot get myself to journal. I actually hate it :-/ I have lots of thoughts and feelings on why, but I definitely would rather chat with someone about my thoughts, not write them down. Cheers to being a fellow introvert (who also loves coffee dates & speaking in front of people) ;-)
Honestly, I need a term stronger than introvert to describe me. My siblings used to refer to my bedroom as the “hermit hut”, so maybe I’ll adopt that one 😉