Oh, Now Everyone Wants to Know What Introverts Do for Fun by Connie Vines

Amidst the COVID-19 stay at home order, it may be tempting to keep your eyes fixed on the TV or social media news feeds.

Instead, I encourage readers to use this time as a gift.  This is a rare opportunity to turn this isolation to your advantage; because the world is improved when its occupants are inspired and motivated, rather than anxious and overwhelmed.

Tonight, April 12th, at 11:55 pm, I’m motivated to create a few ‘fictional characters’ showing how he/she will answer the ‘Call to Adventure’ (Joseph Campbell’s classic, “Hero with a Thousand Faces” lectures and teaching materials).  Personality Types:  IB Learner Profiles.

My fictional “Call to Adventure” takes place in a house shared by a diverse set of ‘co-habitats’.  Current location: a mid-sized kitchen.   Mood: Frayed.  Day: 21

Cast of characters:

• Risk-taker: a person who is willing to do things that involve danger or risk in order to achieve a goal. (think: Indiana Jones/James Bond).

• Care-giver:  a person who is concerned with others feelings, focusing more on the care and needs of others. (think: Marie Barone, Everyone Loves Raymond).

• Communicator: a person able to understand and express information confidently, works well with others. (think: Radar, M.A.S.H.)

• Inquirer: a person who has a natural curiosity and conduct research. (think: Lucy Pevensie is a fictional character in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series).

• Knowledgeable: a person who explores concepts, issues which have local and global significance. (think: Sherlock Holmes, Mr. Spock).

• Reflective: a person who is able to assess and understand strengths and weaknesses. (think: Batman)

Call to Adventure:

“We are entering an era of unprecedented recipe substitutions!” wails the Communicator, peering into the jumbled cupboard, searching for something, anything, to toss into the crock pot for the evening meal.

The Care-giver:  looks up from her organized arrangement of plastic containers.  “Why are you people taking your vitamins? People deficient in Vitamin D (and, most of us are) who start taking the supplement every day (400iu/40mcg), can get a 70% reduced risk of contracting any viral (or bacterial) respiratory disease. This is based on a rigorous scientific double blind, placebo study of 10,000 people. If you don’t get enough sunshine, take Vitamin D pills, or eat foods like tuna and egg yolks. . .Which I watched on this amazing YouTube lecture—”

“Really?” the Communicator interrupts.  “I’m worried about—”

“Here,” says the Risk-taker, plunking a plastic bag of dried red beans from next to the crockpot.  “Cook these!” he says before exiting out the back door yank a couple of leaves off the laurel tree in the backyard.

The Knowledgeable-person, fills a large pot with water and places it on the stovet op before setting the burner to medium.  “I’ll rise the beans and remove any agricultural debris. Afterwards, slow boil the beans for 20 minutes, drain and place in the crock pot.”

The Communicator smiles but still looks concerned.

Looking up from is journal, the Reflective-person, says,” I understand your concern, but you can add the canned tomatoes, onions and bell peppers from the freezer.  I believe there’s also a frozen ham hock you and toss also.  Red beans and rice are filling.

“Cayenne pepper, have many health benefits that are the result of their active component, capsaicin. They may reduce your appetite and help lower blood pressure, among many other benefits.” The Care-giver, added to the conversation.

Setting-up a speaker on the counter, the Inquirer adjusts the volume control on here iPad. “I’ve made a playlist for us to listen today.  Only feel-good songs.  I can make additions, if anyone has a request.”

The Risk-taker returns to the kitchen, holding several lemons.  He walks over to the sink and carefully cleans and quarters the fruit. “We can add this to the iced-tea.”

Music plays in the back ground while everyone enjoys a glass of iced tea.

##

Everyone has his/her own way of coping with the stress of being sheltered inside. 

Cooking, gardening, talking on the phone, meditating, taking an online class; or for the extroverts, a zoom class or live-streaming exercise workout may provide a positive recharge.
 
I like to write, exercise with my poodle (picture yoga with goats) and hunt for the missing-pouncy-ball.  I also keep in touch with family and friends via social media and phone calls. I also, as I'm certain you know from following my blog posts and Facebook page, I like to organize my kitchen.  I also have a obsession with canning jars.

Remember to find a good story to read.  It will brighten your day and give you something to talk about over dinner or in a call to a friend.

Be kind to yourself.  This means taking time for yourself, even if your day is filled with taking care of your loved ones. 

We will get through this—Together.

Remember, to follow the links for our April Raffelcopter prize and give-aways.  You will need to look for my ‘Easter Egg”


.Page link for contest

Happy Reading,

Connie Vines