Name Something That Will Keep An Extrovert Busy -- And Give An Introvert Time to Recharge! :D

Hey Everyone,

We've been having a great conversation about why some of us become exhausted around people -- and how we cope with it:

A while back I wrote a thread asking whether people here were introverts, extroverts, or something in between -- the overwhelming majority here voted introvert. In fact, I don't think a single person said they were an extrovert, though we did have a few who said they could be a mix.

Now just to make it clear, we LOVE extroverts. Many of us (meaning me!) wish we could secretly be them. If you are an extrovert, we want to hear from YOU and what your experience is like!

But we're also having a meaningful conversation on what compromises we introverts try to make while being around the extroverts we love.

I loved @Suze's playful recommendation of giving an extrovert something thought-provoking to do while we introverts power up! I would love to hear YOUR suggestions. Likewise, for the extroverts, feel free to tell us things you'd give us introverts to do to while YOU take a break from us as well!

This thread is all meant in good fun and cheer. I am NOT trying to make fun of extroverts at all -- some of my best friends are extroverts and I know this would make them laugh (at me!)

And, seeing as the extroverts I know are brimming with what seems like boundless energy...

Might I suggest:

1. Start 2 businesses while working a full-time job in a managerial position (I can't even laugh at this one -- I have a friend who's doing this very thing.)




2. Untie a knot, but only if it looks like this:



3. Poke a bear (doubling as a fitness opportunity!)





4. Count (and precisely measure) a 5 lb. bag of dry beans:





* What are some things YOU would ask an extrovert to do while you as an introvert are recovering from "over-people-ing"?

@ATSTD had some awesome ideas, but now I'd like to hear yours!

These days it's usually funny cat videos.

Shoot, even as in introvert, I've been suckered in by too many of those myself. (Though the kind I enjoy most are when one species, such as a cat, adopts and takes care of another species, such as a dog -- or human baby. )

I, as an introvert, once dated someone who was a bit mixed. But her being more social meant if we ran into people she usually did all the talking. So it actually worked out well. But she wasn't so extroverted as to constantly need to be around people. So there was no problem just hanging out together and watching a movie. It was a perfect dynamic for me.
Also she struggled with picking up on body language and tones people used. So when she would talk to people I could sit back and watch. That way I got the enjoyment of watching the interaction, and she got the enjoyment of talking to people. Afterwards we'd go over the body and voice tone and I'd explain to her what things I saw and taught her through real life examples. She actually did improve.
She tried talking less and listening/watching more. It helped her to pick up on things she previously would have missed.

So unless each others intoversion or extroversion is too much for one or the other, then it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Just letting each be who they are and not pressuring them to do things they don't want, it should work out fine.
Though people who are more extreme on either side should probably find someone more similar to them.

What an awesome portrayal of how varying degrees of introvertedness and extrovertedness can work together! I really appreciate you taking the time to post this.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how God makes people different, then puts them together so that they'll learn how to use their differences for a common benefit.

It reminds me of an old Sesame Street skit, The Geefle and the Gonk.


The Geefle and the Gonk were hungry, and trying to figure out how to harvest these yummy nectarines. Geefle (the green monster) was tall with long arms -- but he couldn't actually bend his arms to feed himself, while Gonk (the blue monster,) was short with downturned, but (!) bendy arms.

They finally came upon the solution of having Geefle pick the nectarines because of his height and long limbs, then throw them down to Gonk (occasionally bonking him in the head,) so that Gonk could pick them up -- while also feeding Geefle.

(Gonk decides to call this wonderful new system, "Cooperation," while Geefle wants to call it, "Shirley.")

It was one of my favorites as a kid (1973 was a bit before my time, but they reran skits on the show for many years afterwards,) and to this day, it still comes to mind when I see people with differences finding a way to coordinate their abilities.

My honey watches those all of the time.

Thanks for the funny response. And don't call me Shirley.
😂🛩😂