Thoughts on Boredom ...

In the last year or so, I've thought a good deal about the distinction between the basic introvert and extrovert personality.

Growing up, I tried to turn myself into an extrovert, because that's what I thought the Christian was supposed to be - outgoing, vivacious, always going going going and doing doing doing.

Later, I realized that I found that life exhausting. I've heard someone say that the distinction between the introvert and extrovert personalities weren't how outgoing someone was, but rather where they found that spending time alone, or time with others, stoked their energy level or depleted their energy level.

I've definitely found that I'm renewed when I'm alone. While I enjoy times of community, it's always like a glass of cool water when I come through my solitary front door, and hear the latch click shut behind me.

I was thinking this morning about how that relates to "boredom." I was telling someone the other day that I honestly can't remember the last time I was "bored." But then I wondered this morning if that's not true.

People normally think of boredom as something that happens when one's alone, with nothing to do. But I wonder if what the introvert experiences as boredom is exactly the opposite. Perhaps for the introvert, boredom is that antsy, restless feeling that comes when you're ready to seek out solitude.

An extrovert's boredom happens when he or she has had too much of what doesn't come naturally, and wants to get out into the world. Perhaps an introvert's boredom happens, also, when he or she is ready to seek the place where they are at rest.

So while my extrovert sister-in-law may be bored after too many days at home without anything fun to do. Maybe my boredom is when I've spent 3 hours at the happy-fun-party, and feel myself eager to hide in the ladies' room for a while for a little quiet!

Interested in opinions, if anyone else finds the subject interesting!!!