I know this because last night was the first of the Ottawa ChiSeries readings for 2017. Naturally I went. Some of my favourite people in the world are regulars of the series, and it's been far too long since I've seen them.
Naturally, it was a wonderful night. The readings were fantastic, the crowd was wonderful and supportive, and it was genuinely lovely to catch up with people I hadn't seen in a while.
Alas, however, it was also thoroughly exhausting—and I mean exhausting! I crawled into bed so bone weary, I almost felt like maybe I was getting a cold.
Nope.
I'm just a colossal introvert and I find crowds and socialising utterly exhausting.
This is not news to most people, but it really did surprise me just how exhausting I found it this time around. For pretty much the entire winter, the largest number of people I was socialising with at any given time was four. I was only ever a little tired afterwards.
By comparison, the crowd at ChiSeries Ottawa was much larger. It was also a lot of people in a relatively small space, which didn't help. Oddly, I wasn't nearly as anxious about it as I am at conventions. I think this is largely due to the fact that I knew most everyone there, and they're all generally lovely folk. I didn't feel as under attack as I normally do around large crowds (which is to say, crowds trigger my fight or flight, not that I literally feel like I'm being attacked).
All the same, after the event (and honestly a while before it finished), I was utterly spent. I could barely keep my eyes open during the ride home.
I always forget how draining socialising can be for me. This time it struck me particularly strongly how much it affects me.
This isn't to say, of course, that I don't enjoy my time socialising. I genuinely do, particularly in the SFF scene here in Ottawa. It's just really, really exhausting.
So today I'm indulging in some self-care. I'm reading and relaxing, with tea and good food. And a visit to the chiropractor.
What about you? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What do you do to replenish your soul when it's utterly spent (I could use some tips!)?
Ciao!