Member-only story
The Pandemic Made Me An Introvert
Before the pandemic, I had been traditionally thought of as an extrovert. Striving to group events, shaking hands, telling anecdotes…I was powered by people.
For most of 2020, I found myself largely confined to my home. Work was remote and social events were canceled. How was I to connect and how would I recharge?
There was all this energy that wanted to link into other energy, but with nowhere to go. Social media acted as a promising avenue, and it’s when I also started writing. But both proved themselves as less than fulfilling surrogates. All my energy began to sit with me and I felt like a ship with no port in sight.
Out of survival, I began spending more time alone and trying to charge myself. I was determined to meet my needs, doing so by finding many activities to explore myself and enjoy my solitude. It felt weird but eventually became normal.
Even after getting vaccinated and beginning to attend social events again in 2021, I still don't feel like my old self. Even when I go out, I find it necessary to sneak away at least once, in order to recharge and find myself again. It seems like a lot more boundaries are up instead of flowing from conversation to conversation. I am more careful with my words and sharing too much can feel strained. It can be exhausting…
