Back to my one post per week cycle. If you haven’t done so yet, please read about my Arizona journey – I wrote one blog post per day for a week. Now that I’m back home in Florida, it’s time to get in the groove. This is post 16 of week 16.
For those who’ve known me for a while, they understand I’m an introvert. If you’ve read much of my blog, I’ll bet you’ve picked up on it, too.
Being an introvert means I prefer my own company. It means I’m just fine being by myself most of the time. It means I avoid groups like the plague.
It also means I’m an HSP – highly sensitive person. I feel and absorb others’ emotions and it gets overwhelming. Hence, the need for solitude to re-group and re-charge.
Some years ago, God put me in sales. Yes, he did. I cried and I begged, but to no avail. Sales is where God wanted me and that’s where I am to this day. Out of desperation and a need to survive, I learned how to sell things by using words. I became good at sales by learning how to connect with my customers. My HSP has come in handy many times over.
I also began to write. It’s cathartic for me and a way to put my thoughts and deepest feelings into words that I, many times, am not able to say out loud. And in order to get better at writing, I began to write articles for newspapers and magazines. In order to do that, however, I needed to conduct interviews with real live people.
A funny thing happened. I got to know all kinds of wonderful people. I wrote articles about recovering addicts and foster families and charitable organizations and rehab centers. I wrote articles about healing from sickness and mission trips and deliverance from a hurricane.
As I interviewed these extraordinary folks, I became connected to them and them to me. I learned about their fears and pain, aspirations and dreams. I learned about their failures and victories. Their stories became a part of me.
I saw one of my story-people today and it was like meeting a long-lost friend. We hugged and made plans to get together. We share something special because I know her in a way most don’t. And I value that knowledge and connection. I feel the same about each and every one of my story-people. They have made me a richer person because of our brief time together.
As an introvert I struggle with feeling inadequate. Over the years there’ve been many instances where I felt so unable to help others in ways many of my friends do on a regular basis. I tend to hide from emotion because it’s scary and I don’t feel in control of the situation. My help is, quite often, given long-distance. Too much emotion sucks the life out of me. I care, but I can’t allow myself to care too deeply for very long.
Sitting at my computer, typing on my keyboard, I feel safe.
But this funny thing happened. It finally occurred to me that God, in making me an introvert, not only knew what he was doing, but planned it on purpose. My way of helping others is just fine with him. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly how he wants me to serve others.
Let me explain. When I write your story and it’s published in a newspaper or magazine, the readers of that publication get to know you, too. Your story touches them in just the way God wanted it to happen. Ripples of eternity begin the moment I hit the ‘send’ button on my email and your story starts its irreversible path of destiny.
My part in the story is short and temporary. But my part is essential, nonetheless.
We all have our roles to play. Never feel like you’re not good enough. As that little boy so many years ago said, ‘God don’t make no junk.’ He designed you with love for a specific purpose. I encourage you to go on an adventure and find out just what that is.
