Figuring out my word for the year helped me so much. I think next on the list is looking up the definition of the word introvert. I think it might explain a lot about me. I consider myself extroverted because I love to dress up in glitter and heels and sing high notes in front of large (or small, really any size) crowds of admirers. But then I want to go home and be quiet.
So – slow feels good. It just kind of turned my brain around and instead of feeling pain, I felt happy. And still do this evening.
I’m also feeling the benefits again of my third Whole30 (do an internet search if you want more info on this eating plan). It stabilizes my emotional state and helps me feel physically and mentally stronger. I had never made the connection between food and state of mind until I started eating this way. It’s really quite lovely to eat very tasty food and feel good too.
S-l-o-w – yeah.
17 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 3, 2013 at 4:49 am
thedogs'mother
We did an exercise in grad school for extroverts and introverts and I was/am in the introvert section. Explained it as you can be outgoing and social (and sing) and enjoy it but that you recharge your batteries by slowing
down and being in your cozy place (home). Extroverts (like my good friend) feel run down alone and recharge by being out and about and interacting. It is said that Bill Clinton is an extrovert – he thrives and recharges on contact and meeting and greeting – all which made him a successful politician.
January 3, 2013 at 6:15 am
MakingSpace
OK by those definitions I’m a complete introvert. Though I wonder if this is somewhat situational for me. I work with people all day in teaching, and I’m pretty done with the action and interaction by the time the day is over. I wonder, if I was by myself all day, if I’d feel the need to recharge by being out with people. Hm… Anyway, my friend’s telling me she thinks I’m an introvert gave me a sense of permission, I think, to just be at home and like it, rather than go to parties I dislike. Heh.
January 3, 2013 at 12:33 pm
zannalyn
Yeah, Amy, I think you are an introvert. Goes with lots of soul searching and blogging about it, no?
Your internal world is clearly rich, varied and deep. I saw a really cool TED talk on being an introvert… have you seen it? I don’t recall the woman’s name, but I’m sure you can find it. She has a book out, too…
thedogs’mother, I really like that definition. I recharge by being alone, at home, or out in nature. I do need a certain amount of social contact or I get a bit nuts… but not having the alone time is what really makes me crazy. It’s like I lose myself if I spend too much time with other people. A certain amount of solitude is essential! I’ve always been “yeah, but…” about being either an extrovert or introvert, but this definition makes it clearer than anything I’ve heard before. Thank you.
January 4, 2013 at 8:24 pm
MakingSpace
Yeah, Zanna, that’s me too. After I wrote that about being an introvert, I spent the next day with a friend and we talked for four hours straight – and it felt like five minutes. But it was very calm, very contained, just exactly what I needed.
January 3, 2013 at 4:10 pm
35JupiterDrive
I’m an introvert. Although I didn’t used to be. I actually changed as i got older.
My inner world is very rich and I can be happily alone, and I HAVE to recharge by being away from people. Ack.
January 4, 2013 at 8:25 pm
MakingSpace
I think this happened to me, too, especially as I started to come out. I realized that I had a whole inner world that I had not been aware of, and it turned out to be calling me pretty deeply in.
January 3, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Evolving
I am like a peacock….. An introverted extrovert.
January 4, 2013 at 4:01 am
35JupiterDrive
I love this.
January 4, 2013 at 8:26 pm
MakingSpace
That probably describes me in my performing life. I have absolutely no fear of being on stage, in fact I thrive on it to the extent that if I go too long without performing, I kind of wither inside. At the same time, as soon as I’m done being a peacock (soprano version), I want to go home and snuggle in.
January 4, 2013 at 2:15 pm
29blackstreet
Hey Sweet Peas !!
The book is called Quiet : the Power of Introverts I’m reading it now – fascinating and very validating, also she relates being an HSP(highly sensitive people & a true psychological term) to Introversion 70% of introverts are also HSPs
here’s the TED talk link
http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html
January 4, 2013 at 8:27 pm
MakingSpace
Thank you Susan, I look forward to both the book and the TED talk on the subject. I have a lot to learn, having only recently admitted to myself that I am an introvert and, really, kinda proud of it.
January 4, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Lexie C
Slow may be your solitude- your unique way of processing the world and creating your safe zone (introvert style?
).
I loved the ted talk offered here in the comments- great gravy did I need that. And it makes perfect sense to me that a good portion of introverts are HSPs (being a poster child for both of these myself).
I’m also glad that you mentioned the connection between food and state of mind. This is something that I lack at the moment. And I feel it. I would try whole30 if I had more self control and less (whiny) folks to feed. But I definitely need something!
January 4, 2013 at 8:29 pm
MakingSpace
Slow and solitude do feel connected for me, that is very true.
For me, the connection between what I eat and my state of mind/emotions is astonishingly direct. I only have two whiners and I don’t make them eat Whole30, but even changing how I eat has altered their diets, and one child’s allergic rhinitis (basically blowing her nose all the time) has diminished by over 50%. It’s been shocking.
Some people swear by the 21 day sugar detox. Apparently it’s pretty similar but has its own lists of foods to eat and ways you can do the program. And it’s just 21 days. Haha
January 5, 2013 at 9:59 am
Lexie C
I’ll check it out. There are so many different plans and diets and detoxes, it’s a bit overwhelming and I generally end up just giving up and eating more veggies and fruits and calling it good. Probably not enough.
January 10, 2013 at 9:46 pm
MakingSpace
I think that all the diets and detoxes and eating plans converge at “lots of vegetables.” That’s what I’ve noticed. I suspect if we all ate tons more veggies and cut out processed foods, we’d all be much healthier. In any case, I’m really happy with my particular eating plan for my particular life, but I wouldn’t presume to think that it is best for anyone else. I think we each come to what it is that works best, in our own way. As for me, my two most recent mad passions are avocados and spaghetti squash. Heh.
January 11, 2013 at 4:39 am
Lexie
I went to a seminar last night on fitness/changing lifestyle that was pretty fabulous- a place to start, anyway, and made me happy. Unfortunately I’m on my own for this (no support at home). Such is life though.
I LOVE avocados and the fam actually eats spaghetti squash- got any favorite recipes you could jet my way?
January 11, 2013 at 5:28 am
MakingSpace
Right now I’m not working too much with recipes, I just kind of combine veggies and meats I like. But I’m loving the cookbook Well Fed by Melissa Joulwan (she also blogs at The Clothes Make the Girl). My schedule has been a bit overwhelming, but the children and I want to try out several of her recipes.