Worn out

Some people are energized by interactions with other people. They thrive on busyness, activity and events.

Then there is me.

Over the last five days or so, all I've done is run from one activity to another, or deal with varying crises. While several of those activities have been fun things, and most of the crises have been dealt with successfully (at least those over which I have some control), the flurry of stuff has left me drained.

Thursday, the first day of the two-day seminar I attended, was bookended by two Bible studies, the first of which meets at 6:45 a.m. Friday had me driving all the way across town after the seminar to a dinner and card-playing date with friends. Home to sleep, off to the coffee shop early Saturday to get some paperwork done, then a meeting for the fall retreat. Back home for an hour, then off to celebrate my birthday (don't get excited - my birthday is still in January...this is a much-delayed celebration) with a day out with a friend. Home to sleep - sleep in a bit Sunday morning, then off to church.

Brief respite Sunday afternoon. Monday rolls around and work...explodes. This would be the crisis that I could do something about (with patience, common sense and aplomb, thank you very much (well, actually, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" - Philippians 4:13 was my mantra of the day)). The work day finally ends (ten hour day) and I go home...

...to do the laundry I didn't get a chance to do Friday, bake the chicken legs I thawed but didn't bake Sunday.

Sit for a moment, then answer a phone call from a friend who has a crisis to deal with (the one I have no control over). Poor thing - she had called both Thursday and Friday evening, I had called her Sunday, but she was on her way out the door, and we didn't connect until Monday. Anyway, I spent the next hour and a half saying "Uh huh," and "Have you considered.." and "What concerns me is...".

Looking at it all, it really doesn't look like much, but for an introvert like me, it's just plain too many people. Don't get me wrong - I like people (most of them, anyway), and realize that we are indeed made for fellowship - I just don't constantly need people and activity all around me. I crave, mentally and physically, time to be on my own.

So I'm declaring this weekend a sabbath from people. I just want to putter at home, lost in my own thoughts, doing my own thing, leaving the phone on silent and (perhaps) even turning the computer off.

Well, except for the dinner party I'm having Saturday night, that is.