Day -20 :: The Nightmare

 An Introvert's Nightmare

I told my first friend today that I'm doing this, or at least thinking about it. Her response 

"Man that sounds exhausting. Hahaha I know someone who tried [that]...but didn't finish it." 

It does sound exhausting. I am an introvert, meeting large numbers (>2) of my peers[1] is a lot of mental and emotional work for me. Especially if I am going to try to care about them for longer than 30 minutes. I am hoping it'll go much better in a 1-1 setting. 

The concept that extroverts usually misunderstand about introverts is that we literally *need* alone time to recharge and be ready for the world. It's not that we hate people. 

The best metaphor I have is leaving batteries alone and plugged in to charge. If you try to make us do

activities with people while we're trying to recharge, it just won't work as well (if at all). 

So yeah, this sounds kinda like a nightmare. Not because I don't like meeting new people and finding out what makes them special, in fact helping a person feel *seen* sounds awesome, but doing it every night for 29 nights straight after working a full time job, sounds exhausting. 

Especially when my normal bedtime is 9pm. [2]

Here's to hoping all my dates understand that this Cinderella turns into a pumpkin at 9pm. 

Love, 

Me

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[1] I've been asked before how, as an introvert, I can develop relationships with 180 new students every year...and all I have to say is there's a difference between 13 yos and 30 yos. 

[2] Not a joke. Many years ago a friend had a sign hanging in his house that said "Leave by 9", and we all did, and I've always wanted one since.