“Don’t pack your introvert,” he advised.
What? You’re kidding!
An introvert by design, I was most comfortable away from the chaotic chatter of a crowd, yet I was expected to leave my introvert at home? An internal battle raged as I considered the outlandish idea.
Could I do this? I wasn’t sure.
Throngs of newbies were preparing to attend their first writers’ conference when a well-seasoned author and literary agent offered this simple tip – don’t pack your introvert. His audience of wannabe-writers included me.
I was friendly and loved people, but I wasn’t the most outgoing, gregarious person in a crowd. I preferred to observe from the sidelines while stronger personalities took center stage. Not timid. Not awkward. Not even shy . . . just comfortable living life at my own easy pace.
As a child, I loved phonics, penmanship, reading – anything to do with writing. I loved the feel of a pen in my hand, the flow of ink on paper, and the magic of words on a page. Diagramming sentences was great fun. Creatively combining words into sentences in order to convey a message was a challenge I enjoyed. My favorite homework assignment was writing research papers. Seriously! I was a word nerd and a natural introvert.
During my career, I was the ‘go-to’ gal called upon to write press releases, articles, and such. I wrote for my own enjoyment, too, but I dreamed of a time I could seriously pursue writing. Thankfully, retirement brought that, and my bags were already packed to attend my first BIG conference. The Florida Christian Writers Conference. But, now I had a problem. You see, my introvert intended to come along.
Could God be suggesting to me that I leave my introvert at home?
I know He often speaks to us through others. Was this His voice?
God hears my prayers and knows my heart. I knew that, too, and I had recently told Him if He opened doors, I would walk through them – simple as that. So, what’s a girl to do?
Symbolically, I repacked my bags and left my introvert at home when I boarded that jet bound for Florida. Impressive oak trees lined the streets that welcomed me, their branches heavy with tendrels of Spanish moss. The sun reflected off a nearby lake, and the air was thick with humidity as if to remind me I was not in Kansas anymore. Exuding a newfound confidence, I walked into that conference center as if I belonged there.
OMGoodness, who WAS this strange woman?
Self-confidence is defined as personal belief in one’s own abilities, qualities, and judgment. Amazingly, confidence filled the gap left behind when I unpacked my introvert. For several days, I rubbed shoulders with award-winning, best-selling authors and learned from keynote speakers. I asked questions, made new friends, exchanged business cards, and shared dreams with authors and agents as we ate together between sessions. Sitting on the front row, I fearlessly volunteered my ideas to be critiqued or used as illustrations by professionals leading the workshops. My introvert wouldn’t have dared to let an expert unpack my ideas, but by being bold, I gained personalized advice and valuable connections.
My introvert remains comfortably packed away – rarely to be seen again – as I continue to follow God’s lead with more confidence than I ever imagined possible.
In my retirement, I have self-published eight books; three, as a ghostwriter. My debut book was a Serious Writers Book of the Year Finalist. Hundreds of my articles are published in newspapers and magazines; some have earned Kansas Press Association and HACWN awards. I’m now a conference presenter, event speaker, writing coach, podcast guest, and guest blogger. I empower family historians to preserve their stories through my signature Generational Storytelling workshops, and I partner with Legacy Coalition to celebrate intentionality among Christian grandparents. To say my world has expanded is an understatement. Who knew God had such plans for me at this stage of life? I certainly didn’t.
God truly gives us the desires of our hearts and I’m forever grateful for open doors. What a blessing to know He can use my words for His glory.
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