I’m A (Karma) Chameleon October 18, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, People, Writing & Writers.19 comments
Like many writers, I’m an introvert by nature. I recharge by being alone and don’t need much in the way of social interaction to be content.
My need for solitude is one of the reasons I choose to live on quiet islands (this is our third!) rather than in the middle of a bustling city. I would wither away in short order if planted in the heart of Manhattan.
Despite introverted tendencies, I’m a chameleon.
When I’m around other people in social settings, most attendees would assume that I’m extroverted because I’m often the life of the party :
* I feel comfortable talking to people on any number of subjects. When I don’t know anything about the topic under discussion, I ask questions.
* I enjoy telling anecdotes and funny stories to make people laugh (or think), and listening to others share their stories and histories.
* I am equally comfortable under the spotlight . . . or sitting on the sidelines watching the world go by. Plant me at the edge of the crowd (or in the middle of a party where I don’t know anyone) and I become so absorbed watching the interactions playing out before me that I never worry about what “they” are thinking of me.
I expect being an attorney did me a world of good in overcoming my introverted tendencies when around my peers.
To effectively represent others, lawyers must ignore any self-consciousness they feel while “on stage” in front of judge and jury. They stop worrying about their own reputation and focus on how their clients are being perceived by the fact finders. They shed their shells and develop thick skins in the process.
But once an introvert, always an introvert.
Being around people for too long drains an introvert’s batteries. We tend to withdraw from the public eye in order to recharge. In contrast, extroverts recharge in public. When no one is around, their batteries start to dry up causing them to crave opportunities for social interactions.
While there are exceptions to every rule, I expect that most serious writers are introverts, not extroverts.
Being introverted causes one to be a bit more thoughtful, contemplative, and observant.
For writers . . . that’s a good thing.
Quote: There is only one trait that marks the writer. He is always watching. It’s a kind of trick of the mind and he is born with it. ~ Morley Callahan
Related posts: We Are Not The Labels We Wear * A Writer’s Life For Me * Introverted vs. Extroverted (Maggie’s Writing Blog)
Fun With Numbers: Sequences October 18, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in People.33 comments
Math has logic and certainty behind it.
When you see the pattern, you can predict the next step in the progression.
It’s Black & White, without the endless shades of gray that predominate elsewhere in life.
Craving a bit of logical certainty?
Here are a few easy sequences to put order back into your day:
1) 1 4 9 16 25 36 ___ ___ 81
2) 3 5 8 13 21 ___ ___ 89 144
3) 8 ___ 64 125 216 343 ___
4) 3 6 10 ___ 21 28 ___ 45 55
5) 2 4 8 16 32 ___ 128 256 ___
6) 1 4 7 10 13 ___ 19 22 ____
7) 3 9 27 81 243 ___ 2187 ____
Answers tomorrow.
NOTE: Some answers may appear in the comments. Don’t scroll down until you’ve solved the sequences . . . or have given up due to lack of sleep, lack of coffee, or lack of interest. Cheers!
Related posts: Your Role Model * The Laugh Calculator * Certainty and Symmetry * Attitude is Everything * SPOOKY: Last post = DCLXVI (666)
