| Hello, my name is Karyn, and I am an introvert. Many of you may not know this, especially if you don’t get out much, but the third week in March is National Introverts Week. I suppose I am now expected to get out of my jammies, turn off Netflix, wrap up the leftover pizza, drain the last of the cheap wine, and get out there to celebrate. Yes, it will be another draining week. |
| Most introverts prefer dogs over people, mainly because dogs don’t judge you for not going to a private school, never talk politics, and don’t expect you to take shots with them. |
| Introverts also prefer more solitary pursuits, like yoga. As for me, I have my own version of downward dog, where I curl up on my bed…okay, it’s a nap. Known to roll our eyes a lot, we introverts also prefer conferences where everyone stays home, meetings that last less than six hours, and we don’t need 317 birthday congratulations on our Facebook page. In fact, most of us probably don’t even have a Facebook page. |
| Unfortunately our culture is one that favours the extrovert; the gregarious, the enthusiastic, the sociable – keeping Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People perennially in print. |
| Cause leave an extrovert alone for a minute and they immediately reach for their cell phone. |
| President Calvin Coolidge is supposed to have said, “Don’t you know that four-fifths of all our troubles in this life would disappear if we would just sit down and keep still?”, probably paraphrasing French philosopher Blaise Pascal who said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from the inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Coolidge is also purported to have said, “If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it.” Sublime. |
| Interesting enough, with the bombardment of technology over the past few years, introversion seems to have become not only justified, but flattering; excusing passivity, anxiety, and simple laziness regarding communal life. Wanting to be alone is healthy, but we have to be careful that we don’t use excuses to cover selfishness. With this deluge of social media, it’s now easier than ever to avoid human interaction. We send a disingenuous email instead of having a face-to-face meeting, we turn down a dinner invitation via text that we wouldn’t have had the gumption to decline over the phone, we post pictures of decorated cakes when we could be having coffee with someone. It’s becoming socially acceptable, even preferable. When we choose to stay in instead of going out, we get less and less social practice, our communication skills declining to where the mode of conversation is a monologue. We commune with little depth, clarity or reflection, forming opinions by the face our pugilistic table mate makes or the mutterings of the person with the IQ of a potted plant siting next to us, without investing the time to come up with our own thoughts and feelings.And don’t forget about the small army of glowing smartphones at dinner tables, in restaurants and bedrooms, at cash registers and airport line-ups – people hunched over their devices, heads bent, looking like a congregation of mourners…mistaken as presence and attention to others. And don’t forget about the small army of glowing smartphones at dinner tables, in restaurants and bedrooms, at cash registers and airport line-ups – people hunched over their devices, heads bent, looking like a congregation of mourners…mistaken as presence and attention to others. Yes, I admit to like curling up with a thick book and a hot cup of coffee. I use the book as a coaster for the coffee and browse the internet on my laptop while simultaneously texting my friends and flipping between channels on TV. What were talking about again? So whether an introvert or a wannabe, it’s not an understatement to say thathome is a bedrock to well-being. A home is more than a place, it’s a feeling and a state of mind, a vessel of desire. We want our home to be a sanctuary, sustaining and fostering recuperation from outside stresses. |
The term sanctuary means different things to different people, which is why it’s about creating vignettes and different zones to serve whatever we need and want out of our home. Decorating our home based on our personality will give a harmonized and balanced feeling that fits our lifestyle, allowing us to live with solace and ease. |
| There are a myriad ways to achieve this hygge comfort: Use neutrals or multiple textures of the same colour so the space is warm and layered, but still visually calming. Choose subtle patterns in furnishings and wall coverings. Choose furniture with clean lines and sleek surfaces. Mix organic materials like wood and wool, metal and linen, leather and fur, velvet and wicker. Purchase plush, comfortable seating to cozy up in. Invest in down toss cushions and pillows. Lay down flannel sheets or silk. Drape sumptuous throws on sofas. Have smaller, more enclosed areas for one (or plus one). Arrange furniture in an intimate grouping.Enjoy the glow of lamplight and control ambient lighting with dimmers for a perfect Zen feeling. Put in thick, lush carpet or area rugs. Design thoughtful vignettes that, even if only you notice, make you happy.Burn beautiful scented candles, like gardenia. Arrange a small bouquet of fresh flowers, a single tropical leaf in a vase, or grow plants. |
By the way, if you’re looking for me, text me like normal people.
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