I am an introvert. Shocking to some, but not at all surprising to those who know me. And I realized today that this is one of the reasons I love flying alone. Now, of course I absolutely love taking trips with friends. (This is something I’m trying to work in more often.) I also love flying for the obvious reason of judging people in airports. Again, anyone who knows me would not be surprised by that fact either.
However, as I was sitting in the Tallahassee and Atlanta airports today making my way to Baltimore for a conference, I realized how relaxing it is for me to travel alone. Even though airports and flights are full of hundreds of people, I have absolutely no pressure to interact with any of them if I so choose. And for the most part, I don’t. I can sit, watch, read, listen to music, play around on the internet (if I can find free wi-fi…please explain to me why Atlanta still does not have this…), and really just retreat into my own world while I go from Point A to Point B.
Part of this realization may stem from having recently traveled to a different conference with a good number of friends and colleagues. I easily get overwhelmed and subsequently aggravated when trying to coordinate a group of people traveling. Overall, and when reflecting on the trip, these experiences are more often than not positive and good ways to bond with others. Yet, admittedly, by the time we were heading back home, I did not want to see or talk to most of the people with me.
It’s not you, Its me. Truly. In all senses of the term, I am an introvert. I love people, in small doses. I love meeting new people, in small doses. At the end of the day, I want to unwind either alone, or with just those closest to me. (Currently, this typically involves my boyfriend and my cat. A good cuddle from one or the other or both tends to be helpful.) I am energized by alone time. I recharge when I have time to breathe, reflect, or just get away. This is why I love movies and reading.
I am always amused when students do not believe I am an introvert. I often explain how extroverted qualities are learned, and are a necessity of my job. At work, I enjoy the constant interaction I have with students. If I didn’t, goodness knows I would not work in Student Affairs. But I relish the times like today where I can have a mini-getaway for myself. Even if I get nothing more out of it than a blog post, starting a new book, listening to favorite songs, or laughing at ridiculous people in public, I enjoy the little rewards.
(Sidenote: Traveling in itself is not always relaxing of course, but when I actually have time to sit before or in between flights, it can be enjoyable.)
