I love fireworks...but I don't really like crowds, or big groups of people in general. So events like fireworks for Canada Day are a bit of a challenge. Like I want to see the pretty sparkly lights in the sky, but crowds, people, oh my!
I'm an introvert. I know that's my natural tendency, or at least where I started. But I've had lots of practice at being more extroverted, doing things that require LOTS of people contact. I feel like I more or less forced myself to do these things. I was a bit of a lone wolf. Kind of cold, distance, difficult to get to know. And, yeah, that relates to attachment and I think my attachment style and my level of introversion has changed over time.
I made myself go to parties and talk to lots of people. Even if it was brief hi, hello, names and not much more. Even if it required a little liquid courage for me to go to the party and/or at the party to talk to people. Doctors say one or two drinks are ok, maybe even good for you, and they do help me let go of inhibitions enough to be braver and talk to more people. :)
I also ended up taking jobs that required me to be at a booth or a table, talking to hundreds of people that came to the convention or trade show. Jobs where I had to demonstrate the cool features of the products to sell the products to people. I often had to attend large conferences and events too. Even now with my own small business, Hourglass Heaven, I do large trade shows like the West Coast Women's Show that has thousands of visitors. And the days are long! It’s hours and hours of people contact and since it's my own small business, it's often just me at the booth.
That's really a HUGE amount of people contact for someone who's introverted, and it has changed me to being a bit more extroverted and more comfortable talking to people. But I'm still more likely to listen than talk and I'm still seen as being shy by some people. It's only if you ask me questions that I'm likely to tell you about myself.
So crowds and Canada Day, what to do? I texted a friend, cause I don't like braving crowds or parties alone. Better to have some support! I found a female friend who was free for Canada Day. Yea!
We joked of needing a guy to join us. I asked if she wanted me to ask around or do a girl's night out. She thought male company would be nice, so I asked around. An acquaintance who recently moved here was free, so he joined us too. Great! Group of three to brave the crowds.
We headed into the sea of people. We eventually found a place. There were crowds packed ahead of us. We were further back. Along the edge. Still with a good view, but also with space between us and other groups of people. And I think that's the balance that works best for me for fireworks. Enough space to have a little place away from the packed sea of people.
Packed seas can be fun briefly, but I always want to step away for air, water, breath... So better to have a little space for people I know and me. :)
I'm an introvert. I know that's my natural tendency, or at least where I started. But I've had lots of practice at being more extroverted, doing things that require LOTS of people contact. I feel like I more or less forced myself to do these things. I was a bit of a lone wolf. Kind of cold, distance, difficult to get to know. And, yeah, that relates to attachment and I think my attachment style and my level of introversion has changed over time.
I made myself go to parties and talk to lots of people. Even if it was brief hi, hello, names and not much more. Even if it required a little liquid courage for me to go to the party and/or at the party to talk to people. Doctors say one or two drinks are ok, maybe even good for you, and they do help me let go of inhibitions enough to be braver and talk to more people. :)
I also ended up taking jobs that required me to be at a booth or a table, talking to hundreds of people that came to the convention or trade show. Jobs where I had to demonstrate the cool features of the products to sell the products to people. I often had to attend large conferences and events too. Even now with my own small business, Hourglass Heaven, I do large trade shows like the West Coast Women's Show that has thousands of visitors. And the days are long! It’s hours and hours of people contact and since it's my own small business, it's often just me at the booth.
That's really a HUGE amount of people contact for someone who's introverted, and it has changed me to being a bit more extroverted and more comfortable talking to people. But I'm still more likely to listen than talk and I'm still seen as being shy by some people. It's only if you ask me questions that I'm likely to tell you about myself.
So crowds and Canada Day, what to do? I texted a friend, cause I don't like braving crowds or parties alone. Better to have some support! I found a female friend who was free for Canada Day. Yea!
We joked of needing a guy to join us. I asked if she wanted me to ask around or do a girl's night out. She thought male company would be nice, so I asked around. An acquaintance who recently moved here was free, so he joined us too. Great! Group of three to brave the crowds.
We headed into the sea of people. We eventually found a place. There were crowds packed ahead of us. We were further back. Along the edge. Still with a good view, but also with space between us and other groups of people. And I think that's the balance that works best for me for fireworks. Enough space to have a little place away from the packed sea of people.
Packed seas can be fun briefly, but I always want to step away for air, water, breath... So better to have a little space for people I know and me. :)
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