Here where I live, today is a good day to be inside.
Though it is bright and sunny, it is also cold… like 25 degrees cold.
And so even as I practice gratitude for my ability to be sheltered from windy, 25-degree conditions, I like to maintain a connection with the outside.
Hence, this perfect perch:
Here I am inside… safe, warm, and dry. And yet the outside is right there, just beyond my fingertips.
As a documented extrovert, I am metaphorically “outside” most of the time. I like meeting people, talking to them, telling jokes, and just generally hanging out with them.
“Outside” is my jam. People are my favorite… people.
But there is a downside to all this glad-handed, people-pleasing extroversion. We extros (as we like to be called) are occasionally guilty of disregarding the value of “inside” time. We aren’t terribly quick to take hold of those moments of solitary pause and reflection and celebrate their value.
I mean sure if we find ourselves stuck on a rowboat without a companion or network connection we MIGHT engage in a little self-reflective navel-gazing.
Maybe.
Truth be told though, that inside stuff makes us a little nervous. We aren’t always sure we want to see the kind of sticky, icky stuff we might run into if we got too quiet or look too closely.
But if I aspire to call myself a writer – as I most certainly do – I know I need to come to grips with the inside life. Actually, all of us can benefit from a little inwardness from time to time. We would all do well to turn off the TV, pause Pandora, shut down the chit-chat and listen to the stillness of our souls.
Maybe what I need to find is one of those California-style indoor/outdoor rooms for my soul. Something like this would allow me to be outside when I am in, and inside when I am out: 
How about you? Are you an extrovert who struggles with quiet, alone time? Or are you on the opposite end of the Myers-Briggs scale and find you would rather undergo a root canal than spend time with other people?
What are your coping strategies? How do you push beyond your self-imposed boundaries now and then?
It is worth reminding each of us that no matter how we are wired, we are each “fearfully and wonderfully made,” according to the Lord of the Universe.
And you can take that (out) to the bank!
Russellings of the Spirit 
I’m “primarily” an introvert. I love [need] quiet, alone time. I love people, but prefer them in smaller groups in which we can really connect. I can be rather “good” at “performing” in larger groups (classrooms, forums), so people often don’t believe that I’m an introvert and actually very shy.
As a “devout” introvert, I am never lonely. As the old lady said when caught talking to herself said, “Well, I wanted to talk to SOMEbody and I’m still pretty interesting, even at ninety.”
Your perch by those expansive windows is beautiful, Russ! As an extrovert, do you find the view inspiring or distracting? I am blessed to enjoy time with people and time alone. But as you’ve challenged me to analyze further, I do find after an extended period of human interaction, I’m ready for some personal time. I love to be at home, writing, reading, blogging, crafting. So I guess that puts me mostly in the introvert camp. Years ago I would have classified myself as an extrovert. Not sure how or why I’ve slid to the other side a bit. Perhaps it’s just a natural result of the aging process?
I would have to say my view here from my perch is both a little inspiring and a little distracting, all at the same time… which is kind of why I like it. You make a good point about the effects of aging and the introversion/extroversion equation. Maybe as we age, we develop a better appreciation of solitude and time alone.
Thankyou so much for that reminder. So needed that. And your space looks perfect too:)