NEWS FLASH: I am NOT a people person!

All my life I have told myself that I am a people person, but I have learned that I am not. Some people might argue that I am a people person, but let me explain. I have learned that I love people. I have learned that I love hearing and knowing peoples’ stories. I have learned that I love doing things, going on adventures, and eating meals with people. BUT when it comes time for me to recharge and relax, I need to be alone. It doesn’t matter what I decide to do, but I need to be alone. It changes your world when you learn how you recharge, but it changes your life even more when you learn to actually utilize this realization.

So, don’t get me wrong... I LOVE PEOPLE! I am certainly a fan. There is nothing I love more than talking to a stranger next to me at the coffee shop about their life. I want to know everything about them. I learned early in life that people feel valued when they are known.

BACK UP THREE YEARS AGO: 

It was my first summer working for my church’s missions program. I spent the most of my summer in the 3^rd Ward of Downtown Houston. There was a kid there named, Dadrian. He was a total punk.  He didn’t want to participate, didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to smile, and definitely did not want to be at a VBS being run by a bunch of white, suburban 7^th graders. I don’t know why, but I spent EVERY DAY sitting next to that boy, asking question after question after question. It took 5 weeks, but boy did his attitude change when he learned I cared about WHO HE WAS not just whether or not he was participating in the activities we where providing.  

FAST FORWARD TO THIS PAST SUMMER: 

Dadrian and I are still friends and because of the time I took to get to know his story and his heart I have the ability to  speak truth into his life now!

That summer three years ago, I realized that people matter. I realized that people’s stories matter. I realized that people’s hearts matter. ULTIMATELY I realized not only do people matter, but God calls us to know and love them.

So the truth is I would spend all my time with people if I could, but I am learning to take the time I need to recharge by myself.  Its hard, but it’s important. I can’t completely invest in people the way I want to when I haven’t taken the time to be alone and recharge. Yet I also can’t revert to ONLY spending time alone-, which could totally happen- but that’s for another time and another post. ;)

I know I am called to love and know people! It is a part of who I am! It is who I naturally am! But I am also not a “people person” and I have to learn how to take time for myself so I can recharge. So maybe tomorrow, I’ll read a book! ;)

So, tell me how do you recharge?

RECAP:

I LOVE PEOPLE

I NEED ALONE TIME

FIND HOW YOU RECHARGE, it helps...i promise