Opening the Blinds
I don’t think I have ever defined myself as an extrovert. There have been times in my life where I have done extroverted things, like the multiple times I went to schools where I didn’t know basically anyone but forced myself to talk to people so I could make friends. There have been parts of my life where socializing has come easily and smoothly. Lately, there have been lots of times where interacting with other people—especially people I don’t know (or don’t know very well)—feels exhausting. Sometimes, I just want to do my own thing. I’ve written before about my distaste for small talk , which stems from both personal insecurities and the reality that small talk is genuinely not energizing to me, though I do recognize it as a necessary building block to cultivate relationships with new people. The hard part is that I really like people. I love getting to know new people and being able to hear their stories and perspectives and jokes and learn about everything that has made them...