I just returned from an incredible weekend at Laity Lodge in the Texas hill country. After speaking 4 times in 4 days, and interacting with (wonderful) people throughout the weekend, you can imagine I'm pretty exhausted. Thanks for those of you who prayed for me. God was definitely present. I'll have some thoughts to share in the near future about the topics I addressed - rhythms and a rule of life - but for the next few days I'm going to get some rest.
If you have never been to Laity Lodge, it is easily the most impressive retreat center I have ever been to. The setting, the staff, the food, the people, the vision of marrying spirituality with arts and music, all of it. Incredible. And it's highly subsidized too, so the cost is extremely low for what you get.
For today, I want to throw out this idea: Introverts having an "Designated Extroverted Driver" (DED) to take us home after taxing social events. After we have drunk heavily from the keg of dopamine, the last thing we want to do is drive ourselves home. We would like to plant our head firmly on the head-rest of the passenger seat and sober ourselves up with sleep or internal processing.
What would be the qualifications and requirements for a DED?
To be honest, I disagree with the statement, "After we have drunk heavily from the keg of dopamine, the last thing we want to do is drive ourselves home. We would like to plant our head firmly on the head-rest of the passenger seat and sober ourselves up with sleep or internal processing."
ReplyDeleteNot to be cheeky, but that's what you want, not what we all want. I, as an introvert, actually look forward to driving. And if I'm going to choose between driving myself home and having someone drive me home (and be in the car with me), I would never choose to be a passenger. I love driving, even when people-tired.
I love driving home alone so I can reflect on the evening. My experience of being driven home by an extravert is that they need you to talk to them to keep them awake.
ReplyDeleteLaura may be right - perhaps it would be better to pair up a napping introvert with a driving introvert. An extrovert would just want to keep talking to you while s/he drove you home.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. So a lot of you seem to prefer driving home alone to a designated extroverted driver. I could see that.
ReplyDeleteOr, you could have an introverted designated driver sitting in the car with the motor running. But "DID" isn't as funny as "DED."
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree with Laura. After an exhausting be-gracious-and-extraverted time, I love to get in the car and drive myself home, whether it's a couple hours or a couple minutes. Just me and my thoughts and the steering wheel. Having an extravert along would be crazy-making. Having anybody at all along would feel intrusive. Plus I don't want to sleep after something like that. I want to think quietly to myself and process it (driving's lovely for that) or sit on the couch and read a book.
ReplyDeleteThis is so.
ReplyDeleteIdeally, I'd want to be alone. But I could live without the stress of driving.
ReplyDeleteSo best bet would be to share the driving with another introvert who'd understand the desire for pockets of processing and then larger pockets of stillness ...
See but you're also going to a social event with this person. It can be much better to go to a function with an extrovert, who will help you meet people and carry on conversations. Then they have energy at the end of the night too.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I think that where you are driving (ie. the driving conditions) matter. Since moving to LA from rural Oregon my love of driving has quickly evaporated. I used to love to drive, but having so many other cars on the road is just as draining to me as being in a room full of people, possibly more so. Especially since I have found that people behind the wheel tend to be less patient and considerate than in person.
ReplyDeleteI guess you could say I'm an introverted driver. Give me a long expanse of road, pretty scenery and the occasional passing car and I could drive for hours, but venturing even for a short stretch in rush hour traffic is exhausting!!
Second, my husband and I (both introverts) have a mutual understanding that the car is a talking-free zone on the ride home from visiting our extremely extroverted friends. I would have to agree that I would not want to ride home with an extrovert, even if that meant I didn't have to drive. Even if they understood my exhaustion, I would still feel the pressure to "keep the conversation going."