I don’t mean it the way it sounds – really! But if you were to ask me what is my favourite thing to do I would say ‘just leave me alone’. That is my favourite thing to do. I love being alone better than anything. And if I don’t get time alone, I will get sick, with depression. It’s called being an introvert. It doesn’t mean I don’t like people (although frankly sometimes I don’t). It means that my energy is renewed by being alone.
And what might I do if I were alone? Write, sew, paint, read, walk, or watch TV. I have lots to do when I am alone. I am satisfied with these activities. Whereas a social activity or an amusement park leaves me edgy, sad and wanting to get out.
Here is a descriptive list of what an introvert personality is like:
- Need quiet to concentrate
- Are reflective
- Are self-aware
- Take time making decisions
- Feel comfortable being alone
- Don’t like group work
- Prefer to write rather than talk
- Feel tired after being in a crowd
- Have few friendships, but are very close with these friends
- Daydream or use their imaginations to work out a problem
- Retreat into their own mind to rest
When I first began to tackle life with depression, my wonderful doctor/coach showed me this list. It was a revelation for me. You mean if I were to live more like an introvert, I might feel better, I wondered. And it worked! I had never thought about such things but when I was hopeful that if I paid more attention to my natural needs, I might get better. Now I didn’t get ALL better but it made a difference and it still does.
If you’d like to read a bit more about being an introvert you may want to check out these articles on my blog Depression Getaway with Wendy Love.
Now I don’t live the solitary life all the time, but if I don’t live the solitary life at all, I will get sick. What about you? Any chance you have some introvert tendencies? Many people do. But the world is created for the extrovert.
I think Jesus may have been an introvert. Yes, he had to spend time with people a lot in order to speak to them and heal them and love them, but he also took time away. Mark 1:34,35 says “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.” My Bible tells me so.
It’s okay to be an introvert. Jesus was.
