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The Introverted Pilgrim

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I'm an INTJ and have always had to find some place to be alone with my self, or reading a book.
 
Don’t worry Glenda, I’m confident you’ll work it out. You can choose to join the noisy table at dinner or not, and no one will be offended. You can walk alone or respond to a friendly ‘Buen Camino’ or not. Especially in the evenings, it’s generally understood that people have their own routine and should be left to rest. Good luck
 
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@davebugg thanks for this thread. I used to be active on Leslie's discussion board (as UnkleHammy) and don't like how it was shut down.

I've also been here for several years too.

I am also an introvert and when I have to interact with people, I say internally to myself that "it is time for mode B operation". Which means that I will try, with increasing mental stress to "appear" like the others are. I still need "me time". In real life I have always been able to ignore those around me and dedicate myself to work. It helps that I have discovered software and have been a programming for over 40 years now. (Additionally it pays well and there are many software types that are also introverted.)

It is rare for me to initiate a conversation, however I am usually willing to participate in a conversation. In the last 7 decades I have developed many short things to say that I use to get out of talking to others. Some of these conversation stoppers are more impolite than others, which is not all that good.

I have I minor complaint on this discussion board and that is that when I see something that is as well written (and many time from the heart) as items are on this thread, there is no way to give an item a "double like"!
 
Well you never never know if you meet David in the Camino you might decide to go for a glass of vine and some tapas.
 
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Thanks, Albertagirl, for this.
Two points: One is I, too, am a vegetarian, and have been amazed for decades that carnivores who declare they can't possible stop eating meat, gorge themselves on the vegetarian selection without a second thought.
Lastly, I particularly embrace your sentence ending "...I am an introvert, largely solitary, but on camino I am a pilgrim, trying to be open to however I experience that."
 

I have a Forum Member badge on my backpack, so please say 'hi' if you do see me. I love it when I meet a fellow Forum member.
 

Good to see you here

I most certainly recognize your username from the other group. I never participated in it very much, and the short time I would read through it, things seemed very quite activity wise. I wasn't aware that it shut down, though. Bummer.

I hope some of the others make their way here, too.
 
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Or why I would rather walk barefoot over fingernail and toenail clippings, piled onto a bed of thorns, that are covering the stony path into Molinaseca, than to stay at a place like Orisson.
What happens at Orisson????
-a fellow introvert
barbara
 
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People are invited, at dinner, to introduce themselves and share their reasons for walking. So they work their way around the room for everyone to speak.
The same happens at dinner in Beilari in SJPDP. I spent four days there while recovering from a prolapsed spinal disc about 20km short of there on a walk from the UK. As someone who is both introverted and shy in social situations I found that part of my stay quite uncomfortable but the warmth of the welcome, the generosity and the compassion of Joseph, Jakline and my fellow pilgrims made up for that many times over. Enough that I was delighted to find a bed for the night there a year or so later on my next Camino.
 
People are invited, at dinner, to introduce themselves and share their reasons for walking. So they work their way around the room for everyone to speak.

Captive audience.
I stayed at Orisson once: first day, first pilgrimage. I know that I said something when it was my turn. But I have no idea what I said. It cannot have been particularly profound, as I had no idea why I was there.
 
People are invited, at dinner, to introduce themselves and share their reasons for walking. So they work their way around the room for everyone to speak.

Captive audience.
That would be stretching my comfort zone...especially if it was one of the first nights...
 
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St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Introvert, hm, that is me as well. I am usually able to hide it pretty well, but it is getting harder as even the lesser-used routes are getting crowded. Using the lesser-used routes starts out fine, but the congestion on the last part has become so bad that I can no longer walk in peace. I very much suspect that my next Camino also will be my last.

Why? Well, apart from being moderately introvert, I have this thing called stress that evidently will not let go, even though I am on retirement now. Thus I have a need to get away from it all and enjoy a bit of solitude on the Camino, intermixed with a moderate level of interaction with other pilgrims, and enjoying a quiet evening on town. Problem is, that "a moderate level" and "quiet" no longer seems to be possible, even off-season. If I have to be honest with myself, doing a Camino is beginning to stress me. Well, I guess that I finally will be able to kick the habit

Alas, 'twas time to stop anyway - I am quickly running out of RC relatives to walk for ("Vicarie pro"), one more, and then the remaining part are agnostics, so that is no longer a valid excuse

I have enjoyed the Camino, but I guess it's time to start walking places like Lapland again. In fact, I am looking forward to it ☺
 
You, too, may be an ambivert.
 
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Not sure if I’m an introvert or not, but I do know it takes me a long time, sometimes never, to make a new friend. It’s a process of sorts, and at anytime along the process the whole thing may come to a screeching halt.

After 61 years, for me, I tend to make friendships with people of similar backgrounds, hobbies, political leanings and so on. I can immediately make half of any group avoid me by saying I believe in God, I’m conservative, I’m a Navy Veteran I own weapons, I ride motorcycles, I’m a geek and so on. Those attributes usually insure a first encounter will be the last.

If a person can get past that, they will quickly realize that after they have told me everything about their lives I’m not in any hurry to reciprocate. No one walks up to a stranger in a hometown restaurant, invites themselves to sit down and spills their guts, why would the think that’s fine on the Camino.

My purpose on the Camino is a private and not meant for general consumption and it’s definitely not to satisfy the needs of other who crave social interaction....which is not to say you won’t find me respectful, pleasant and polite. My interaction with others until we get to know each other very well is much like an iceberg...1/3 can be seen and 2/3rds hidden.

As for me, where you are from and why you are on Camino is your business, not mine. I won’t ask you that casually. If I do I’ve realized I want to take a next step down that road to friendship to which you are free to exit. If we remain on the same road and we both see it going somewhere you take small steps, slowly.

Group functions, not for me. Standing up and telling strangers details about my life, not for me. Incessant chatter about meaningless subjects, not for me. I just don’t have that need and I’m not going to feel bad for being who I am, nor should anyone else.

The best advice I got was from a good friend who invited me to spend an evening with his professional skate boarding friends. I told him I would not fit into that young crowd and he said “you be you”. I remained true to who I knew I was and had a great time with a few.

You be you, whatever that may be. Don’t pretend to be someone you are not to fit in. If someone doesn’t like you, that’s one less person to deal with leaving more time for someone for someone who may.
 
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I totally understand where you are coming from. Before I went besides the physical challenge of course, the absolute most challenging aspect for me was my problems with groups and crowds. I was in the Navy on submarines years ago so I knew I could handle it, but I work rotating 12 hr shifts in my job and I love the alone night shifts and dread the people filled dayshifts. The walk for me was a spiritual quest and I was hoping I was up, able and had the faith to get through the people and physical challenge. The crowded places, Papalona, Burgos, and Santiago were overwhelming at times, but the time alone under the stars before the sun came up, sitting in the quiet churches, hearing the stones crunch under my boots as I heard from God, watching the sun set on the ocean in Muxia were life changing. I got through the people part, and met some very special people that touched me as well.
 
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I'm an extrovert, for the most part. However I relate to a lot of what you say. I very much prefer to walk alone and really do not long to be part of a "camino family." Sometimes I'll spontaneously join up with people at the end of the day in a cafe who I have met before. However I am very happy to set up my bed at the albergue and then eat dinner, have a glass of wine, explore the town, etc. alone. That's paradise for me. I'm not great at small talk and I don't like big groups.
 
Jill, you just described me:

A bit of fun...
Ah wonderful. Thank you, Chris!
Sadly that first list is how society at large treats introverts, as though it is a flaw. I guess we're all supposed to be like bubbly cheerleaders? I'm happy to be 'too serious.'

That is one of my major reasons for wanting to do the Camino, and now you say it is not a "cure" yikes
There is nothing to 'cure,' and nothing wrong with being energized by quiet and solitude. In fact it is a wonderful gift that allows depth and ease in situations that would drive an extrovert around the bend. Walk with your head high!
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
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Here's my stock line to ditch people, "Hey, it was great talking to you! I'm gonna take a break here and I'm sure we'll see each other again down the road."
It's an obvious - but not unfriendly - goodbye. I've yet to have anyone say, hey, good idea, I'll take a break here, too.
 
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I don't know about the rest of it, but you had me at motorcycles. What do you ride?
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

As I've suggested, I find that just answering the usual questions does the trick pretty well --

I started in Monte-Carlo/Lourdes

I've been walking for XYZ days (an unreasonably large number)

I haven't had a serious blister since 1994

I'm walking for a complex combination of reasons that are religious, spiritual, health, Catholic, and personal

---

Most people run away ; and the ones that don't ? Well, those are the good guys, and they usually have something interesting to hear and/or to say, usually both -- though sometimes I am the first outright and blatant Camino zealot they've come across, and they need to hear what the zealotry is like, first-hand, so that they can work out their own relationship with the Way, better informed, but on their own terms.

And if the umpteenth zillionest question about blisters can lead to that ? Yeah, I'll answer it.

We were all novices at one point, and it's it's mistaken not to care about and for the needs of the novices.

---

And FWIW, that "I'm gonna take a break here and I'm sure we'll see each other again down the road" line ? It's a good one, but sometimes people stick, and do see you down the road again, and again, and again -- and sometimes even just take a break at the same time, but careful not to invade your space. And occasionally, some of them can just refuse to go away, and yet you might realise that by exception they're right, and you're not -- I stuck to the Catalan painter on my 1994 for 3 days and it was perfectly good, then the Salamancan English teacher stuck to me for 3 and ditto.

We can't be grumpy and alone all the time !!!
 
Very good to read you saying this. Too often posts in Camino debate seem to be arguing that everything is relative and any strong personal stance is unacceptably "judgmental" - using that term in a wholly negative pejorative sense. I much prefer to encounter honesty and a willingness to defend one's position provided it is done with courtesy. You do not have to agree with someone to show them respect!

We can't be grumpy and alone all the time !!!
Perhaps not but I am having some success with the project
 
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Oh I so agree with you.....!!!
 
Oh my God you just described me lol.. well said and my feeling exactly
 
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I have been an introvert all my life. I have walked many caminos. Far as I know, I have never offended anyone by not wanting to be their next best friend. Most adults know when someone wants to be left alone.

Extroverts, or people just jazzed-up at starting their Caminos and feeling a little scared about starting their adventure, cling together into "families" at the start. They let down the walls they built up at home, and they often find wonderful commonality among themselves.

But I find a lot of pilgrim togetherness exhausting. I see a lot of pilgrims for most of the year. That is why I walk, usually on off-season or less-traveled paths. To take a break from the Human Noise. Silence is what energizes me -- silence and walking and contemplating. I never start out looking to meeting Cool Pilgrims. I'm escaping them!

I advocate long-distance caminos, because as days go on and my spirit is refreshed, my awareness is piqued. I become more open to the people and creatures and environment around me. I am better able to connect and share the Way with other pilgrims, and enjoy their stories and experiences. I remember why pilgrimage is so vital to us as a society, and why faith still matters in this "oh-so-sensible" world. I remember why I believe in helping other people make the Camino ... it pulls them out of themselves, shakes out the kinks and crumbs, and packs them back into a stronger, brighter package. This is a process. It takes a good bit of time, and sometimes grace. And even us introverts sometimes have to unbend and open up and change, dammit.

I am not sure Introverts/extroverts labels really fit everyone, but wth. Some come here for quiet, some for company. Sometimes we find enlightenment both ways.
 
I am an introvert as well and most of the people I met on the Camino were introverts. One thing I loved about the Camino and the people I met is that we were all extremely independent. Introverts are helpful but they don’t push their help on others in an unsolicited aggressively helpful way. That’s how I look at it at least. Most days I walked by myself with short interruptions of pleasant interactions with people that I had met earlier on the pilgrimage. I do love hearing people’s stories and there were many opportunities for that in the evenings. I flourished in an environment of no “news weather and sports” conversations. I hate those and I’m really bad at it. I felt blessed to have had some incredible conversations with some amazing people who I am ever so grateful to take a piece of them with me for the rest of my life.
 
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This morning at breakfast I was using my tablet and someone sat down at a nearby table. He then decided that he had to talk to me. I quickly finished breakfast so that I could get out of there and left befor finishing with my tablet.
 
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Ever noticed that introverts are by far the most gregarious in online fora?
I thought that too. I notice for me one reason is that it takes me a while to collect my thoughts and think about what I want to say so that’s easier to do in writing. Another reason is that online no one interrupts me LOL that actually happens quite a bit in face to face conversations.
 
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And if you don’t have time to read the book just watch the Ted Talk by Susan Cain that’s pretty good also.
 
So perfectly said! Love it.

I can relate. Apparently my outside appears extroverted, but my inside is definitely introverted. Like the proverbial duck gliding along the water peacefully, when in reality its little webbed feet are furiously kicking below the surface. What's visible and what's reality are in total opposition.

The social aspect was one of my biggest fears. And one that I hoped to overcome while walking. But I didn't. What I did was embrace that part of myself.

Practically speaking for all you fellow introverts who are embarking, these were my hacks:

1. I naturally walk pretty fast, so I could quite easily just pass people on the trail with a friendly "buen camino" rather than a long forced conversation.
2. Books. Books. And more books! I think I read 10 in 30 days. Lol. 75% of the time I ate with my book as company. Suited me just fine. The other 25% of the time, I ate with people I found to be really awesome and wanted to genuinely spend time with them. Nothing was ever forced.
3. Love yourself. Be you. Do you. You are awesome.
4. Don't compare your insides with other's outsides. More people than you realise are in fear. You are not alone. You are not an odd-ball.

Thanks for the post!

PS) @davebugg ... I loved your "metaphysical bovine feces" wordsmithing, by the way! LOL!
 
I am an innie who wants to be an outtie.I travel a lot solo throughout Europe and stay in hostels. I envy those who so easily slip into social conversations with others. On the occasion when I do make a connection, I usually make a bond....and often stay in touch. That’s probably why I crave it so much!
 
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Dave, what is the link for your hyperlapse on youtube?
 
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I’m one of the ‘innie’ crowd for as well. Always have been. What I know about myself is that I like myself and that I rarely get lonely when I am alone. I do best with lots of alone time because this is what recharges my batteries.

I have dealt with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder all of my life. Attending meetings, parties or other social get togethers was extremely difficult for me because I could not stay focused on the conversations, especially if they were of no interest to me. Whenever someone made a comment or asked me a question, I would have to drag my thoughts back to the present from wherever they had gone. You would say ‘So what do you think about global warming, or the latest Meryl Streep movie or craft brewed beer?’ And I’d have to stop wondering how many seeds are in the average sized dill pickle and try to act like I was actually paying attention or even knew what you just asked. It was exhausting.!!! Small talk? Big groups?NO THANKS.
Now that I have medications which help greatly I can actually keep up with and contribute to conversations and I can do it well. But, guess what? I still like being by myself and I actually enjoy my own thoughts which are now much less likely to wander.
I am not opposed to talking to people for brief moments but I have no desire to get to know every person I meet. I already have a family and have no need to attach myself to someone rather than be alone. I like my solitude.
 
I'm one of those who relish the moments of being alone. I work from home alone except when wife is around. I am more comfortable not talking to anybody at work. All my life, alone is my gold standard. In the camino, I always walk with my wife but she's always faster than me so a rosary and the views of both the countryside and the city is what keeps me going and it's perfect for me. Having said that, when you get to the albergues which is most of the time unavoidable as small towns do not have a lot of albergues, I dont mind meeting friendly pilgrims and have dinner with them and share a laugh or two. Usually, we dont see them ever again. However, maybe God has a plan of letting you meet your "Camino Family" by design and thats what happened to us. Now we call a Priest, a Spanish woman, an atheist Kiwi, our camino family who we still get in touch even today. We met a lot of people in the camino and some of them have touched our lives in one way or the other. In my perspective, I am an introvert who hates parties and social gatherings by default and in the camino, there's plenty of time for myself but occassionally I would welcome other friendly pilgrims who came from different cultures and background. Ultreia!
 
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Introversion is just part of how my personality 'is'.

Hi Dave, thank you for opening this subject and for waking me up. I enjoyed your initial post and subsequent comments on it. I relate to many of the things that you have said and if I ask most of the people who know me well to describe my personality then they will say that I 'am' introverted.

Before derailing this topic too much here are a couple of notes for myself, to remember as I comment:
There are no shoulds.
My truth may not be your truth or The Truth.

I love learning and one of the reasons that I loved my Camino last year and why I want to return is that the Camino provides me with an environment to try out different personalities. When I am at home, people know who I 'am' and so it is very difficult for me to be anything else because they constantly pull me back to what they know. On the Camino, on the other hand, no one knows (that I am a dog) and so I can choose to be who ever I wish and I take that opportunity to experiment.

You see, in my world, my personality was created by a bunch of somewhat random things that happened to me, mostly as a child, and the decisions that I made about those happenings. In my world, I was not born with a personality, the personality that I acquired was developed along the way.

I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with my personality, despite my tongue in cheek comment in brackets above. It is just that the personality that I developed was, if you like, accidental and acreted from my decisions about the actions of others. As a result of my love of learning, I am curious about how life might be if I had a personality that I designed rather than one that just happened along accidentally.

I understand that most of the world disagrees with me on this and that many people who have thought about the subject of personality think that either they were born with the personality that they have or if they developed some or all of it along the way then what they have acreted is permanent and so they may as well accept it as it is. Mostly, people don't think about this subject at all.

Some people do think about it, accept briefly that it may be possible to create their own personality and then recoil in fear when faced with designing themselves from nowhere. Indeed, some philosophies suggest that our acreted personality can take on a life of its own and actively struggle to maintain itself.

Anyway..... The purpose of writing this is not to get too deep but rather to suggest that not everyone 'is' a certain personality. Nor is everyone 'hard wired'. I know that you didn't say this directly in any of your statements but it sits behind your thoughts of Who You Are. I accept that in your world, you are this way (fixed personality). This is neither good nor bad, although you are definitely in the majority on this. Indeed, I often fall back and start acting as if I 'am' a certain way. Fortunately, there are neat people like you around to wake me up every now and then with trigger phrases.

Many years ago, I was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident and as a result suffered compound fractures to my right leg that put me in hospital for four months. Immediately after the accident I felt no pain, shock I guess. Then in the ambulance ride to hospital I felt such pain that I wondered how I would survive it. Soon after arriving at the hospital they gave me enough drugs that the pain felt irrelevant. However, within a few days they withdrew the serious drugs so that I would not develop a dependency and so the pain returned in all its glory.

Initially, I tried to fight the pain, believing that if I willed it enough and if I was strong willed enough that I could make the pain go away. Obviously, this didn't work in any manner. One day, as I lay there, I thought "I want to be a writer one day. Perhaps this accident and this pain is actually an opportunity for me. With luck, this will be the only time in my life when I will feel such pain and so if I take this opportunity to examine and describe the pain that I was feeling then I may be able to use that later in my writing".

So, I started to seek out the pain rather than trying to recoil from it or block it. I examined it as one might examine some object or thing outside of oneself. I actively sort to describe it in any aspect that I could think of.

As I did this, something unexpected happened. The pain remained, in all its glory and grossness but instead of the feeling of pain being something to recoil from it became just another feeling. It was no longer "painful".

Just to be clear, I have not become someone who seeks pain or some sort of masochist. It is just that in this one instance I discovered that thinking differently led to new knowledge. I discovered for myself that actively examining pain could reduce its painfulness.

That leads to why did I drop this seemingly irrelevant anecdote into this conversation? I did that to illustrate that thinking beyond what most people think can open up new knowledge.

Once again, thank you Dave for sharing your thoughts and for waking me up.

Doug
 

Interesting............

I've hardly ever come across that type of questioning. Quite the opposite in fact.
That's the wonderful thing about meeting people on the Camino, you don't really have to talk about your life 'back home'..........

I'd run a mile under that type of interrogation! And totally avoid them.............
 
"Q: Why are you doing Camino? I’m on a mission from God"

With this response you run the risk of an extrovert exclaiming with much (unwanted? ) enthusiasm 'cool, a Blues Brothers quote'...

For the purpose of this discussion I'd say I'm a solitary extrovert.
 
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Perfectly said. While I am normally quite social and extroverted, my pilgrimage walks have been more of a journey inward. I don't begrudge those who want a different experience and I think I'm probably an outlier among pilgrims but I completely understand your comments @davebugg about opting out of some of the socialization. Thanks for sharing.

I'm also reminded of a rather funny experience on the CP last year. A pilgrim Jacques and I walked in silence alone together for the better part of the day. We ate lunch at adjacent tables separately and I read. An outgoing peregrino sat down with Jacques despite other open tables and Jacques just stood up, said "nope" in English, walked out and I never saw him again. I miss Jacques but I understood his need to be alone.
 
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The Friend

It was the night the pilgrim passed by
the inn and its laughter
and made his shelter between stones in the hills.

When his cooking fire became embers
he heard a sound in the darkness.

Reaching for his staff he cried,
“Who’s there! Show yourself!”

"I cannot.” Came the reply.
“I cannot pass through the darkness between us.”

“Then speak!” Said the pilgrim.

The voice said.
“You were seeking me and I found you.
I journey with you and progress is slow through darkness.

But as we draw nearer the temple at the journey's end
you will feel the warmth of my robes

When you stand on the steps of the temple
you will see my face.

When you enter the temple you will know me.

Now' put down your staff and sleep.
I am watching over you.”
 
Thank you David I am so glad that I am not alone in these feelings.J
 
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Doughnut NZ: [[As I did this, something unexpected happened. The pain remained, in all its glory and grossness but instead of the feeling of pain being something to recoil from it became just another feeling. It was no longer "painful".]]

I think this is probably an ancient Buddhist concept; the idea that feelings aren't "bad" or "good"; they just ARE. But more recently it is called the practice of mindfulness; experiencing and learning from feelings, including pain, and - in so doing - it becomes less stressful and more manageable. I've tried to use this strategy, including on the Camino when I am too hot/cold/hungry/aching on a long walking day. A good book about this is:

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness

by Jon Kabat-Zinn (Author), Thich Nhat Hanh (Preface)
 
For the purpose of this discussion I'd say I'm a solitary extrovert
Solitude and loneliness are things many people confuse. But they're really different. And even an extrovert can enjoy some solitude.This is a lovely description, @Meara.

I think this is probably
Not probably - it is.

But more recently it is called the practice of mindfulness;
Only 'recently' in the Western mainstream. Mindfulness is an ancient and very useful tool for managing stess, pain, and difficulty. Its primary traditional role is selfless: deepening wisdom and compassion. Unfortunately, it has been extracted from its proper context of a multi-dimentional spiritual practice - and lots of unqualified "mindfulness teachers" and "life coaches" (eye roll) are making a killing off it. Remembering how to be present shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg.

And it's not the panacea that the influencers in the spiritual marketplace claim - it can be misused and even dangerous, depending on one's psychological balance.

So buyer beware.
 
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agreed.
 
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St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
@Walkerooni, writing 'undiagnosed' was intended as a joke..which is why I put it in inverted commas. I basically meant I didn't recognise I was an introvert until I was in my early 40's. This did not stem from lack of self-awareness but more from the common misunderstanding of what an introvert actually is.
This is a very late reply but I missed your comment at the time...I've only found it now (2 years down the track!) as the thread has magically resurfaced again. Amazing how that happens...
Best wishes.

Edited to note: I did actually reply to @Walkerooni's comment two years ago (see response #20 of this thread)! I've only just found my own answer thanks to @MaryLynn 'liking' my post. So, bit of a double-up on my behalf but I'm happy to note my viewpoint has not changed with the passing of time.
 
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I too am an introvert and crowd gatherings are painful for me. I don't mind one on one getting to know someone and chatting though, with escape paths when I have had enough. I inadvertently found the way that helped me deal with albergues was I only sleep @6hrs or so when lights went off at the albergues about 10 PM I would wake up about 4:30-5AM. I got into the cycle of getting going predawn and I found tons of alone time and I would check in the albergues early afternoon before they were crowded and it got hot. That and my go to distraction reading to escape the noise and crowd takes me away. There were moments that I struggled, but I too the idea of a Camino family prior to walking almost put me off that I can't do this. I thrived all of that solitary alone time on the Camino and it changed my life.
 
I too am an introvert and crowd gatherings are painful for me. I don't mind one on one getting to know someone and chatting though,
I do not usually appreciate crowd gatherings either, although there are a few exceptions for me at times. I love one on one(or one on two) conversations and find those encounters very satisfying and needed. I do enjoy some alone time, but am not a loner. I lean more towards being an ambivert.
 
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Introvert, extrovert, omnivert & ambivert (a new one to me thanks @Camino Chrissy ) ...we're all very different but at least we're all 'verts'!
. And thank goodness we are not all the same variety of ‘vert’ . We need all ‘verts’ on the continuum. And, as one who tends to introversion - other than with my absolute nearest and dearest - I’m so grateful for the more extroverted people in my life. They can bring me out of myself when I need it and add much joy.
 
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St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms

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