Category Archives: Introverted Life

The Best Day

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Mountains
Reflection and I have been hanging out lately. After a glorious but whirlwind summer, I find myself with questions. Questions on eternity, my life’s purpose, time, and what makes a fruitful life. The exercise of writing out your fantasy best day was suggested, as a way to articulate desires and values and what’s most important. I gave it a go.

My best day is less flash and glam that I thought it’d be. When I really thought about my best day, I was surprised at how ordinary it is, how attainable it is, how often elements of it already show up in my life. Here’s a peek:

– Wake up rested but early, in quiet.
– Be alone and have amazing quiet time with God, enveloped in His love, secure in Him and His plans for me and for eternity.
– Stretch.
– Drink a yummy green smoothie while reading a book.
– Write outdoors overlooking a stunning mountain view, in quiet. Maybe Mark Isham music is playing in the background.
– Then the rest of the family wakes up and we snuggle before eating a yummy breakfast together.
– Head out on an adventure together- Josh and I have deep conversations the whole drive. We see a castle, an ancient battle site, or glorious mountain pass. 
– We meet Jesus for lunch (in the flesh). 🙂 
– He comes with us for the rest of the afternoon, as we adventure some more and revel in this world’s wonder. 
– I find a quiet moment to sit under a tree, or overlook a mountain valley, or consider a singing sparrow. I pull out my leather journal and write a quick page on the glory of our world, the lessons God has hidden in it for us to find, how everything ties back to our Father. I dog-ear the page as a reminder to share it with the artists & silence and solitude groups I lead back home. And to chew over how it might fit in the chapter I am currently writing.
– Even the best day comes to an end. After a delicious meal, we head slowly back home, winding through the mountains. We get home, tuck our girls all cozy into bed, and Josh and I head out doors to gaze at the silent stars in wonder. The still night air enfolds us while we talk about Jesus some more, our day, life, adventure. (Jesus stayed at the restaurant to visit with some friends He hadn’t seen in a while. 🙂 )
– Sleep sweet

Looking over my notes, themes become very apparent. Quiet, rest, peace and health (spirit, soul, and body), Jesus, thinking/alone time, the people I love most, outdoors/nature/beauty, adventure/travel, and observing lessons God has hidden in this world and then sharing them with others (I now see that I need so much quiet and alone time because His voice can be still and it takes intention to listen!). This exercise is so helpful because it helps me to see what all the parts are that make my life whole. And it explains while I feel like I am running on empty or despairing when these elements aren’t making up my days.

Fascinating. 🙂

I’d love for you to write down your best day and share what you discover. I think you’ll find it a very helpful exercise!

Love, e

The Friendship Series: The Quiet Ones

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The Quiet Ones

Hello there. 🙂 It’s been awhile since we met. Between chasing summer sunshine and a busy toddler, it’s been hard to drop in. But here I am, ready to continue our discussion on friendship…

Today, let’s talk about the Quiet Ones. Yes, the introverts. Although not an expert on personality types, I am an introvert and have learned a thing or two about dealing with these unique creatures. 🙂

To start, not all introverts are quiet. (I simply use the term “Quiet Ones” as an affectionate name for the souls who recharge on their own.) And not all introverts dislike people. In fact, I would venture to say that many, many introverts actually love people. It’s just that, unlike our extrovert counterparts, we can only take so much of others. People may engage us, inspire us, interest us, and warm us- but they also deplete us. Seriously. We need to gear up to be with other humans- and then we need to recharge afterwards. That’s just the way we’re wired.

But don’t let our seeming finickiness scare you away! We can be some of the most loyal, thoughtful, and steady friends you’ll ever have- with all our own quirks to boot. We just need some special care. Here are a few tips:

1. Choose quiet settings. We are much more apt to enjoy a coffee date than an all-night rave. Being more sensitive to stimulation, calmer settings put us at ease. We can then let our guard down and connect.

2. Smaller is better. Although we may find the mixer event to be a fun novelty once in a while, we are much more comfortable in small group settings- even one on ones. We can better give of ourselves when we only have a few people to interact with- our energy reserves go further. Put us in the middle of too many people and we can start to “hermit” away….

but….

3. Don’t let us hermit away! Yes, we may need breaks from people and space for our souls to breathe, but we also NEED people! Despite what we may think sometimes. 🙂 Don’t give up on us if we’re quiet or seem aloof. We are probably hungering to be your friend- we just need a warm up.

4. Write us a note. Not pigeonholing here, but words mean a lot to almost every introvert I know. So try writing us a note. I bet we’ll keep it for an insane amount of years, stored away in a Rubbermaid box in our bedroom closet, waiting for our heirs to sort through all the papers someday. Not that I know from personal experience or anything. 😉

5. Forgive us. Finally, as introverts, we need forgiveness. Often. Sometimes our need to be alone- to recharge solo and focus on ourselves- can slip unconsciously into selfishness. We don’t mean to be selfish. Truly. We just need reminders that there are so many people besides us- in the physical world outside our heads. 🙂

What about you? Do you know a Quiet One you can uniquely bless today?

You Think You Know

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Crowds all around me, streaming with fluidity.
All so close, but far.
So many faces, smiling at me.
But they don’t really see me.

In familiarity and the security of association real knowing is lost.
You think you know me- but you really don’t.

I’m tired. Tired of trying to be Little Miss Sunshine.
Tired of looking interested.
Tired of asking questions.
Tired of listening.
Tired of investing.
Tired of giving.
Tired when it feels you don’t even care.

Don’t forget that I’m a person, too.
Don’t forget that I want to be known just as you.