The misunderstandings of being an introvert
My lovely sister has sometimes told me that when I was a kid I often lost myself in my own little world. Apparently comfortable (maybe a bit unaware) in my own little bubble. Later in my life it was probably more a way of protecting myself from uncomfortable situations, but it stuck with my personality nonetheless. Especially through my years as a teenager and up until just a few years ago, it’s something I’ve vainly tried to change about myself several times. It’s a characteristic that I’ve been embarrassed of and that has always left me feeling different and weird compared to my friends. I don’t wish to be treated differently and I’m not begging for pity (this post is more me trying to break the taboo it is to be an introvert), but I know how alone you can feel mentally, and it’s probably the worst feeling in the world. I’ve had trouble understanding why I felt such a huge need to step back and be be myself for a while, so I could immerse myself in something without anyone else interferring and then feel good about it. I always thought that this was something I would naturally grow out of, it just never happened. Besides that I’ve had trouble with using the term “introvert” because many people think that all introverts are the same kind: shy and better off left alone. But everyone’s different – that goes for introverts as well!
My introvert characteristics have made it hard for me to find a job that didn’t drain me completely, because on most jobs you find yourself surrounded by a lot of people every single day, without the ability to move your workstation just to get a short break for a while. This means that everyday you’ll get exposed to noise and conflicts that you can’t always help but to relate to (even though it might not have anything to do with you at all). And then there’s the social aspect which is obviously good and necessary, but can also turn out to be your worst enemy if you don’t have any opportunity to escape it once in a while, or to at least build up a flexible job that is suitable for you. Around the time I quit my last fulltime job I was on the edge of a breakdown, and daily anxiety and panic attacks where a part of my everyday life. I didn’t tell anyone else but my husband at the time. I just hung in there and didn’t want any special treatment or for anyone to think I needed to be treated any different. I would sit surrounded by my colleagues at lunch and be hit by a panic attack – my cheeks would flush, and I felt the entire world was watching my every move and judging me, when really noone probably noticed anything different about me. That’s when I knew I needed to do something about my situation, and I remember that when I had to quit I didn’t even have the right words for what was going on. Everything was just a mess inside my head, and i couldn’t really put it to words. So I ended up going for a life as self-employed. If anything just to get a break and to just breathe for a while. You can read more about that HERE and HERE. But I felt so ashamed: embarrassed that I’ve quit my third fulltime job since finishing my education, and I was so afraid that people would think of me as lazy or being on the hun for some unrealistic job where you could never have a bad day.
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Min dejlige søster har nogle gange fortalt mig, hvordan jeg som barn befandt mig meget i min egen lille verden. Tilsyneladende tilpas (og måske sådan lidt uvidende) i min egen lille boble. Senere i mit liv var det nok en måde at beskytte mig selv på, men ikke desto mindre er det noget der altid har hængt ved min personlighed. Især op gennem mine år som teenager og ja, faktisk indtil for blot et par år siden, er det noget jeg forgæves har forsøgt at ændre på af flere omgange. En egenskab jeg har været flov over, og som har gjort at jeg altid har gået og følt mig anderledes, sat af og mærkelig i forhold til mine jævnaldrende. Jeg ønsker slet ikke særbehandling eller medfølelse (indlægget her er nærmere et forsøg på at bryde det tabu, som det på mange måder er, at være introvert), men jeg véd om nogen hvor alene man kan føle sig rent mentalt når man er introvert, og det er den værste følelse i verden. Jeg har haft svært ved at forstå, hvorfor jeg har SÅ stort et behov for, at være jævnligt alene og fordybe mig i noget uden andres indblanden og derfor har jeg altid gået og troet, at det nok bare var noget jeg skulle arbejde på og så ville jeg en dag vokse fra det. Det skete ligesom bare aldrig. Og så har jeg haft svært ved at stå ved termet “introvert”, fordi mange fejlagtigt tror at alle introverte er ens: at alle introverte er generte og bedre kan lide at være alene. Men der er jo forskel på mennesker – også introverte!
Mine egenskaber som introvert har gjort det utrolig svært for mig, at finde et job som ikke gjorde mig udbrændt, fordi man på de fleste arbejdspladser jo er omgivet af mange mennesker hver eneste dag. Du har ikke mulighed for at flytte dig for lige at få en pause, hvilket betyder mange situationer man automatisk kommer til, at forholde sig til (også selvom det slet ikke har noget med dig at gøre), larm, konflikter og i det hele taget det sociale aspekt – som jo er godt og uundværligt – men som også kan blive din værste fjende, hvis der ikke er mulighed for at opbygge en stilling, hvor du kan opretholde den balance der er nødvendig for dig. På det tidspunkt jeg opsagde mit sidste fuldtidsjob var jeg på kanten af et mindre sammenbrud, og daglige angstanfald var en del af min hverdag. Jeg sagde det ikke til andre end min mand på det tidspunkt. Hang bare i, og ville ikke være til besvær eller have særbehandling. Jeg kunne sidde omgivet af alle mine kollegaer til frokost og blive ramt af panik ud af det blå – få helt opblussede kinder og føle, at alle i hele verden kiggede på mig og dømte mig selvom der sikkert ikke var en klap der bemærkede noget. Dér vidste jeg, at jeg var nødt til at gøre noget ved min situation, og jeg kan huske, at da jeg sagde op så vidste jeg slet ikke hvad jeg skulle sige eller hvor jeg skulle starte. Det var bare et stort mudder jeg ikke kunne sætte ord på. Og så besluttede jeg mig for at satse på livet som selvstændig. Om ikke andet, så ihvertfald bare for, at få alting på afstand og få et pusterum. Det kan du læse mere om HER og HER. Men jeg syntes det var flovt; flovt at jeg havde opsagt mit tredje fuldtidsjob som forholdsvis nyuddannet, og jeg var bange for at folk ville opfatte mig som doven eller som værende på jagt efter et urealistisk perfekt job, hvor man aldrig kan have en dårlig dag.
tee – Only (old) / skirt – vintage / shoes – Converse / bag – Marc Jacobs
Not anti-social: selectively social
Today I work kinda half and half as many of you know, so I have a part time job that I’m really pleased with and which gives me financial stability every month, but then I also work alone on my own projects a lot of the time. No matter if I can keep doing this or not, it’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made, to give myself this break, get to know myself a bit better and just be able to build up a more flexible job that I love and that allows me to contribute to our society like any other job. I love working (and I do work more now than before!) and it’s as important to me as for anyone to feel that I have a purpose and that I can contribute with something. But I’ve also found out that it actually doesn’t even matter what I’m doing as long as I’m overall happy and feel in balance, even when the bad days strike. I don’t need to make tons of money as long as I’m happy and able to have a more flexible everyday life. Again I don’t mean to make you think I need any special treatment, because it’s not like that at all. I have no idea what I’m doing 10 years from now and I’m fine with that. Sure I have dreams that motivate me and makes me stronger, but I’d just as much like to be happy here and now and just see what time brings.
I feel like I’ve finally made peace with being an introvert. A social introvert, which means that most days I’m actually quite outgoing and social, but if you meet me on a day where I’m out of balance I seem almost shy, quiet and sad. I’ve learned to respect myself and the breaks I need, when (or before!) the social hangover hits and I know exactly what I need, to get back on track so I can be there for the people I love and who needs me. I’ve also learned that if I’m alone too many days in a row, I’ll get out of shape too. So it’s a constant balance I need to work on, like it basically is for all people – I guess the aftermath just hits harder when you’re an introvert.
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I dag arbejder jeg som mange af jer ved sådan lidt halv/halv – jeg har et deltidsjob som jeg er rigtig glad for og en fast, stabil indkomst hver måned, men jeg arbejder også alene på mine egne projekter meget af tiden. Uanset om jeg kan blive ved med det på sigt eller ej, så er det nok den bedste beslutning jeg nogensinde har taget, at give mig selv det her pusterum og få lov til, at bygge mit bidrag til samfundet lidt anderledes op end normalen, og bare lige lære mig selv lidt bedre at kende. Jeg elsker at arbejde (og arbejder da også mere nu end jeg gjorde før!) og det er ligeså vigtigt for mig som for alle andre, at føle jeg har en “funktion” og kan bidrage. Men jeg har også fundet ud af, at det egentlig er “ligemeget” hvad jeg laver så længe jeg overordnet set er glad og føler mig balanceret, selv når de uundgåelige dårlige dage rammer. Jeg behøver ikke tjene kassen, bare jeg er glad og kan have en fleksibel hverdag. Igen så kan det virke som om man er sådan lidt vigtig-per og skal have særbehandling, men sådan er det slet ikke. Jeg aner ikke hvad jeg laver om 10 år og det har jeg det fint med. Jeg har da drømme der motiverer mig og gør mig stærkere, men jeg vil ligeså gerne bare være glad nu og her og se hvad tiden bringer.
Jeg føler, at jeg endelig har sluttet fred med at være introvert. En social introvert, hvilket betyder at jeg de fleste dage virker åben og social, men på en ubalanceret dag kan jeg virke indelukket, stille og trist. Jeg har lært at respektere mig selv og de pauser jeg har brug for, når (eller inden!) de sociale “tømmermænd” rammer og ved også præcist hvad jeg har brug for, for at komme ovenpå igen og så jeg kan være der for dem, som har brug for mig. Samtidig har jeg også lært, at hvis der går for mange dage imellem at jeg kommer ud og er social, så kommer jeg også i ubalance. Så det er en konstant balance der skal opretholdes som det jo er for alle mennesker, men du er nok bare lidt mere modtagelig og kommer lidt hurtigere på dybt vand hvis du er introvert.
Working with it; not against it
I’m convinced that my need for “quality above quantity” comes from being an introvert. It doesn’t have to be this way for everyone, but it is for me anyway. Not only materialistic speaking but also when it comes to deeper things like friendships and important projects. In pre-school I always stuck with 2 close friends and I rarely felt comfortable in large groups, but I also invested all of my time, energy and love into those few friendships. My husband and I rarely make plans too many weekend in a row, and it just feels nice to be able to do things a bit more spontaneous if there’s anyone we’d like to hang out and drink coffee with, whatever we feel like on the particular day. I think minimalism as a lifestyle feels natural to me, because of my introversion. Again I don’t say that it’s a must, but it’s made a difference for the way I look at minimalism anyway. My whole online universe is build around “less is more”, because that is truly how I live my life and who I am. At the same time I understand the people who says that they can’t live a life limiting themselves like that, because it doesn’t feel natural to them. We’re all different. Being an introvert is a taboo – and growing up with that feeling that it was something I needed to grow out of to survive, is probably something many introverts feel. I’ve often been mistaken as being anti-social, quiet, shy, moody etc. and therefore I’ve always had that urge to change. To work against my introversion instead of working with it. The fact that people feel the need to point out that you are “quiet” testifies a huge misunderstanding in our society. A pressure we put on each other of being outgoing and alert all the time, and if we aren’t then something must be wrong.
No matter what I finally feel like I’ve made peace with and no longer see it as a limitation being an introvert. I look at it more as an amazing ability to immerse yourself in something; not only in projects that you have a passion for, but also in social relations that matter. An ability to notice little details that noone else notices. So today I’ve chosen to look at my introversion as an indispensable superpower in a society where everything passes you by in a blink of an eye! It’s not something you should hide behind or let yourself get limited by in any way, but at the same time it’s so important to recognize, accept and deal with your own way.
Find out if you’re an introvert right HERE. I can say for sure that I am, and it just feels good knowing you’re not alone feeling a bit weird. 😉
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Jeg er overbevidst om, at min hungren efter “kvalitet frem for kvantitet” kommer af, at være introvert. Sådan behøver det selvfølgelig ikke være for alle, men sådan er det ihvertfald for mig. Ikke kun når vi snakker rent materialistisk, men også når det kommer til dybere ting som fx venskaber og vigtige projekter. I folkeskolen har jeg altid holdt mig til max 2 nære venskaber og følte mig sjældent godt tilpas i større grupper, men til gengæld investerede jeg så også alt min tid og kærlighed i netop de venskaber. Min mand og jeg lægger sjældent planer for mange weekender ud i fremtiden, og det er faktisk dejligt at kunne springe mere spontant til, hvis der så er nogen man gerne vil ses med eller som vil kigge forbi til en kop kaffe – alt efter hvad man nu lige har lyst til. Jeg tror minimalisme som begreb og livsstil falder mig enormt naturligt, fordi jeg netop er introvert. Jeg siger ikke det er et must at man er det, for at være til minimalisme, men det har betydet noget for mig ihvertfald. I det hele taget er hele mit online univers jo bygget meget op omkring “lidt men godt”, for det er virkelig sådan jeg lever mit liv og sådan jeg har det bedst. Det er sådan her jeg er. Samtidig så forstår jeg også godt de mennesker der siger, at de aldrig kunne leve på en måde, hvor man “begrænser sig” på den måde fordi det bare ikke føles naturligt. Sådan er vi er jo allesammen forskellige. At være introvert er enormt tabu-belagt, og den følelse jeg er vokset op med – at det var noget, som jeg skulle fralære mig for at overleve – er nok noget mange introverte føler. Jeg er ofte blevet stemplet som asocial, stille, genert, sur, bedrevidende, humørsvingende etc., og derfor har jeg haft en helt naturlig trang til, at ville modarbejde min introversion i stedet for, at arbejde med den. Andre menneskers trang til fx at påpege, at “du er godt nok stille” vidner om en misforståelse i vores samfund. Et pres vi ligger på hinanden om konstant at skulle være på, og hvis ikke man er det – ja, så må der jo være noget galt.
Uanset hvad så føler jeg endelig jeg er nået til et punkt, hvor jeg ikke længere ser det at være introvert som en begrænsning, men nærmere en fantastisk evne til, at kunne fordybe sig; ikke kun i projekter som man brænder for, men også i de relationer der betyder noget. En evne hvor man lægger mærke til de små detaljer, som måske går andres næse forbi. Så i dag har jeg valgt at se på det som en uundværlig superkraft i et samfund, hvor alting går stærkt og hvor mange har svært ved at fordybe sig! Det er absolut ikke noget man skal gemme sig bag eller lade sig begrænse af, men alligevel noget der er supervigtigt at anerkende og tage hensyn til på sin egen måde.
Du kan finde ud af om du også er introvert lige HER. Den liste er ihvertfald 100% mig, og det føles bare dejligt at vide, man ikke er den eneste i verden som føler sig lidt sær. 😉
This is such a helpful post! I guess I’m kinda at the same point where you were having your third full time job, feeling just overwhelmed and ‘lived’ because it’s just too much. It’s just so hard to tell others that you need a moment for yourself because you just had too many impulses at work – it’s like no-one understands it 😀 But this post is really helpful to me and I love reading about others experiencing the same thing. It gives such a great feeling to know that there are many others who feel the same and know that you’re not alone. Thanks for sharing as always <3
Totally agree with you! I am like that too…plus i am a young mom with two kids (it is sometimes hard to be with them for a long time when school is out! I really need to be completely alone in order to ‘recharge/recover’!)….i also feel under pressure that I need to socialise with other moms in order to organise playdates,birthday parties, etc. It is always a bit of a challenge for me to do the school run and stand outside the school where all the parents are also there (now i sometimes stand behind a big bush so i do not need to talk to anyone! Weird, i know) But glad to know there are always other introverts out there❤️Been a fan of your blog for a few years. It gets better and better as time goes by! Love it!
Yes, I can totally relate to this! The school drop-off/pick-up situation can be the worst. If I know we’re going to be hanging out at the playground or something, I’ll bring a sewing project or a book or something to keep me busy so that I don’t feel like I need to make smalltalk or just sit awkwardly. You’re definitely not alone.
I am also an introvert. I read somewhere that extroverts draw their energy from other people but introverts draw energy from themselves. Therefore we need time alone to recharge.
Hi Signe,
this feels so familiar to me. It’s great to know that I am not alone and that I don’t need to feel weird. Thanks for sharing! <3
I have always been an introvert. In my experience, I would not say that introverts are a taboo, but I think that the personality traits that go along with being an introvert can “side-line” you. I took the quiz you posted a link to and I am 22/24 of those things! Haha.
I completely relate to your experience with work. I find social situations (work included) to be so draining that I almost can’t function at the end of the day. I am now self employed since November of 2017. The weight I felt lifted off of my shoulders, when I did not have to face the daily social interactions at work, was huge. I know exactly how you feel about that.
I admire your openness about this. Honestly, if you did not write about it, I would not have had the opportunity to reply and share a bit as well.
Hi Signe, I’ve been following your blog and youtube channel for a few moths, I really love your videos and lifestyle! I’m an introvert too I never had many friends in school, I still dont have many friends, I have one friend (that I know I can trust), and I don’t need more. I have a full time job and my colleagues think I’m a weird or that I have a depression, because I don’t talk much, I dont know how to make for small talk, and I don’t have patience for it either, and I like to be quiet in my place doing my job, and try to stay away from confusions! I don’t care what they think, its the way I am, why do people think there is something wrong? Why are the extroverts the one’s considered “normal”? I don’t know…, this is just to say that I tottaly see myself in what you wrote, and thank you for writing it, and keep your good work!
Godt indlæg! Det er også nogenlunde sådan jeg føler omkring at være introvert. Og er helt ærligt ved at være lidt udbrændt i mit job i et åbent kontorlandskab.
Men jeg vil egenligt bare lige tippe dig om en bog: The introvert advantage. Den fik mig til at indse kvaliteten ved at være introvert og hvorfor samfundet har brug for sådan nogle som os!
you absolutely must read, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. It’s a wonderful book that made me feel understood and not alone for the first time 🙂
Very interesting and relatable post- I am also an introvert and actually cannot be in large crowds, or even less crowded venues with loud noise. The job switching is something I did throughout my working days as a teacher of younger children, teens and also college. (I have a master’s degree) but often working only part-time and spending time on art and writing poetry. Of course, the downside is no pension now that I am elderly, but I always needed a quiet break.
Hej Signe.
Jeg faldt over din youtubekanal, da jeg helt tilfældigt søgte efter videoer om Miilds produkter, og nu har jeg fulgt med lige siden, fordi du minder så meget om mig selv. Med det her blogindlæg rammer du virkelig hovedet på sømmet. Det er spot on i forhold til hvordan jeg har været plaget af mit eget syn på mig selv siden jeg til den første skole-hjem-samtale fik at vide, at jeg var ‘for’ stille – For hvad vil det overhovedet sige? Jeg skal helt sikkert i gang med at udforske og blive klogere på det at være introvert.
Jeg beundrer virkelig din måde at få dit arbejdsliv til at hænge sammen på i hverdagen. Det ideelle for mig ville helt klart også være et deltidsjob kombineret med mine egne kreative projekter, når jeg om et halvt år er færdiguddannet. Har du nogle gode råd til, hvordan man kan udleve den drøm?
Fortsæt endelig ad samme sti som hidtil med alt hvad du laver. Dit indhold er guld værd i den ellers kaotiske SoMe-verden.
Bedste hilsner fra en fellow sønderjyde 😉
Jeg kan virkelig nikke genkendende til mange af de ting du nævner. Jeg har ikke selv en kæreste, men nu har jeg lige været på ferie to gange her i sommerferien, og der har jeg tænkt lidt på hvordan introverte egentlig tackler f.eks. ægteskab – der bor man jo (typisk) sammen med sin ægtefælle og er derfor sammen hele tiden. Bruger I tid hver for sig eller hvordan får du alenetid og bliver ‘recharged’? Det er måske et underligt spørgsmål, men det slog mig bare lige for lidt tid siden, haha.
Hi Signe, i’ve been following your YouTube channel and sometimes your blog for a few months now. (Congrats on the 100 000 subscribers, by the way!) I truly relate to your approach to fashion and to living in general and you have inspired me to change one or two things about my wardrobe.
I think I am a bit of an introvert myself and, although I have never seen that as taboo, your post got me thinking about how I react to different situations and how I could improve that by working with my personality rather than against it as you say. I find this is a good and powerful insight. Thanks for sharing all this with us! Take care and keep up the good work!
I love being an introvert. As a child my extroverted mother, God bless her, would say, “You are so introverted, get over and talk to the people.” I didn’t know what the word meant but I figured it wasn’t good. But being an introvert I watched people and came to learn I liked being introverted. I’m glad Jana mentioned Susan Cain’s book “Quiet”. Susan points out other introverts: Rosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak; introverts have made many significant contributions to the world…they like people…just one or two at a time. They observe and listen. Few people really listen anymore. Think- reflective, cerebral, bookish, unassuming, sensitive, thoughtful, serious, contemplative, subtle, introspective, gentle, calm, modest, solitude-seeking, risk-averse…. We’re nice and make good friends and we are low-maintenance. No wonder we’re drawn to minimalism and sustainability (protecting the earth’s resources.) As my mom aged she became less satisfied with life, the party was over. As I reflected on my own aging I smiled thinking I would be so content with just a chair by the window.
Hi dear! I can relate to everything. What you described has nothing with being introvert. It is something else. Reed the first chapter of this book, it is explained well. Wish you all good!!
https://www.amazon.com/Loud-Bright-Fast-Tight-Overstimulating-ebook/dp/B00KVIBX98/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Hi Signe!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Totally relatable..
Keep up the good work on your channel!
Foteini
Hi Signe
Thanks for sharing this post it is so nice to know that I’m not alone in these experiences & you put into words exactly my experience. I have battled with myself constantly with the little voice in my eye saying I need to more outgoing & need to change, ie not good enough as I am. And others have added to this by commenting on my quietness when I’m
Just exhausted. I force myself to go to social events but sometimes have nothing left in the tank & then feel annoyed at having to be there when I only have limited weekend time to recharge before a whole another week begins. I love your whole ethos & style. Thanks for sharing. From an introvert in New Zealand.
No wonder I’m drawn to you 😀 I got called weird alot. The other more hurtful thing to hear was that I’m always angry. Ahhh, the resting bitch face. So many labels given without asking. Hey, I’m not thinking about YOU, I’m in my head, my own world. I’m also an empath. The dreaded blessing & curse for someone 29 yrs in the medical field.
Hej Signe – god skrevet. Jeg har det på præcis samme måde. Og jeg har lige som dig i mange år kæmpet imod.
I dag omfagner jeg mit introverte væsen fuldt ud – og lever det. Og der er så mange fordele ved at kunne fordybe sig. Dog er jeg meget opmærksom på at få valgt fra, og jeg skammer mig ikke mere ved at sige nej tak til sociale arrangementer som tidligere. Jeg arbejder med min balance i stedet – og det hylder jeg hver eneste dag.
Jeg har arbejdet utrolig meget med mig selv via Enneagrammets tilgang til mennesketyper, og bl.a. uddannet mig til NLP Practicer for at nå til det punkt, hvor jeg hviler fuldt ud i det introverte og det skønne liv der er netop der, hvor støj og larm er valgt fra.
Jeg har fulgt dig i et par år – og jeg vil rose dig til skyerne for en estetisk smuk site og velskrevne artikler. Din site emmer af kvalitet. Og som du selv siger “lidt men godt”, jeg vil mene din site er “lidt og hamrende god”. Det kan du være super stolt af.
Tusind, tusind tak Lisbeth!! Både for at dele din egen historie og erfaring, men også for dine skønne ord. Det gør mig SÅ glad! <3
I’m an introvert (INFP by Myers Briggs) and consider myself an extroverted introvert. There isn’t anything wrong with being introverted or extroverted; it just is. Like others said, Susan Cain’s book Quiet threw open the doors to the masses because introverts have (and probably will continue to have) to deal with other people misinterpreting what the reality is.
As a 12 year old I remember one of my new classmates at school telling me that he thought I was a snob at first but after he got to know me he realized I was just quiet; I was a really nice and funny person and he had been wrong.
At first I was a bit put-off by what he said but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a compliment and that he realized what the truth was. He was an extrovert but I’d say he was an extrovert with introvert tendencies. NO one is 100% extroverted or 100% introverted; we are all a mix and it can vary on the situation, who we are with, circumstances, etc. It’s so interesting!
One of the best books I’ve read is Quiet: The Power of the Introvert in a World that won’t Stop talking. This book helped me understand so much about myself, others and the students I teach. The book points out there’s many types and degres of introversion. Even if you aren’t introverted it is an interesting book.
I can relate to some of the things you said too. Have you ever done a Myers- Briggs Test? I did and found out I am INFJ and a lot of things suddenly made sense. By the way I love your blog and you tube posts and the personality you show is great! ☺️
I can’t tell you enough how happy I am to find your blog and youtube channel. I can so relate to your way of wishing to simplify everything. And now after reading this post, I am so flabbergasted that you experience the same anxieties I do. I’ve tried to change myself and it doesn’t work. So to accept who I am is what I must do. Thank you for sharing your story. I am sure you are helping so many. You have helped me so much. I am so grateful. This has helped me so much as well as your great tips on making a simple wardrobe. I tend to compulsive shop and then have so much that I don’t know where to even begin. All of your videos are encouraging me to change my way into a more simple and healthier way of living in all aspects. I spend most time alone because this is where I feel most comfortable. I love people, but it has to be one on one or I get panicked. I have to take medication, but it does not always work. Again, thank you, and I wish you the best. I admire your courage to speak about your personal feelings to the world. An introvert from Washington State, USA.
Dear Stephanie <3 Thank you so much for your kind words, I'm so happy that you felt better after reading this post. I understand what you are going through, and I know what it's like taking medication - not that I've done so myself, but I grew up in a home with a mother who has taken medication for as long as I can remember because of mental issues. She grew up in a different time - a time where you didn't speak up about your mental health, and where it was "easier" to just give patients lots of medication. Medication that she probably has to take for the rest of her life. Today's world is luckily different and we know how important it is to face these things and speak openly about them. So thanks for also sharing YOUR story! <3 It will help not only me and others who might read it, but hopefully also yourself. xx
Dear Signe, Would it surprise you to know that I am a 70 year old wife, mother, and grandmother who has enjoyed watching you on You Tube and reading some of your blogs? Your simplicity and modesty is refreshing in a world that is increasingly materialistic.
As to you being an introvert, have you ever researched “Highly Sensitive People”? Many of us who are introverts are also empaths: energy people who experience life in a different way than a majority of the population, and who require solitude in order to restore our equilibrium. Our sensitivity is our greatest gift, as well as our greatest challenge.
I think what you share creates a peaceful and creative oasis. I especially enjoyed your trip away (last summer?) with your brother and his girlfriend. It was a wonderful example of simple pleasure and renewal close to nature.
You have my best wishes on your journey.
Candace