Introverts prefer to stay home, read books, be cosy and be alone. Hum, yes, but a lot of introverts would also like to see the World. And I have just recently realized that road trips are for introverts! Road tripping is simply the best way for them to travel. So, let me explain why you should go on a road trip if you are introverted!
First I’ll explain a little of the Extrovert / Introvert thing and give you an idea of my personal journey. What led to the realization that I was an introvert and why this is precisely the reason why I love road trips! It took me a while to understand it. You can skip to the fun part “Yes! Road trips are for introverts!” I won’t be mad!
My path… and what led to this aaaah moment
For years I thought I was just a bit shy and was ‘working on it’, trying to fix myself. It was exhausting but changes always are, aren’t they?
And then a few years back, the Extrovert / Introvert differentiation kind of appeared. Kind of, because these weren’t new psychological traits, but they did get momentum. At first, everybody wanted to be labelled an extrovert because introverts were not cool. Introverts were loonies, socially on the edge, incapable of greatness. Who would want to be labelled an introvert?
And then the wind changed. Introverts united! They decided that their personality was misunderstood, that they were socially just as acceptable as extroverts and just as capable of being successful. For an introvert, the path to success looks different from the path taken by an extrovert. However such paths lead to the same place. Same results, different means.
Kind of ironically, internet and social medias helped introverts unit and spread their message of adequateness. They were able to get together without moving from their homes! Hooray! And boy, they are countless! No one knew there were so many introverts out there. Probably because they were hiding inside!? Or maybe, it is because suddenly it became cool to be an introvert!?
In any case, I’m really glad introverts started speaking up. Using hashtags like #IntrovertProblems or #IntrovertTurnOns, they brought into light their side of the story… with a great dose of sarcasm! #IntrovertSenceofHumour
And there, I realized I was an introvert!
Why am I glad introvert spoke up? Obviously because I realized I was an introvert!
If you don’t have a clue what the introvert thing is, you can check this ever-growing list on Bored Panda. You’ll get a good sense of what I’m talking about. While you’re there, you can check my Bored Panda profile too and give a thumb up to my maps! Thank you so much for doing so!
So yeah, these helped me realize I wasn’t particularly shy but rather introverted. There are 50 shades or more of this personality trait, but there are common grounds. So when I started reading comments from introverts or posts like the one on Bored Panda referenced above, I was like whoa! This explains a lot!
It took me years to understand and for years before that, I fought against myself and pushed myself. Some times, when I was just too tired, I thought I was maybe sick. I read books on vampire people, people who suck your energy. I bought tiger eye charms amongst other things I tried… Well, I also took vitamins, ginseng and lots of other boosters (all legal, ok!) Yeah I tried lots and lots of different things!
Now things have completely changed. This surge of introverts speaking out, really helped me accept myself AND plan and organise things better.
What does it have to do with road trips?!
You may be thinking that, ok, that’s nice but what does it have to do with road trips?! And that’s a damn good question! So let me explain what was my next aaaah moment!
Yes! Road trips are for introverts!
Just this week, I had another aaaah moment! I realized that road trips are for introverts!
Space, silence, the ability to escape the crowd, the ability to spend time with your own thoughts or share with your road trip partner… All of those things are golden to an introvert! Let’s dig.
As mentioned above, there are 50 shades or more ways to be an introvert. This means that we are not all hyper sensitive to exactly the same things. But chances are that the below common points will resonate with you.
On a road trip, you can avoid the crowd!
If you’re an introvert, being around too many people for too long is probably draining your energy.
On a road trip, you decide where you go and when. Too many people here? Let’s just go somewhere else! You are free to choose your itinerary, where you stop, what you do, how long you stay…
All these things are things you have no control over if you’re on an organized tour or simply if you don’t have your own mean of transport. Well, you still have your feet and you can try to walk further away than everyone else, but it gets exhausting!
Your car may be small but it’s all yours!
No stranger will come and sit next to you or awkwardly brush against you, like it always happens in public transport. No small talk required….
You can choose to be alone because you make your own plans
Obviously you can road trip alone. But if you chose to share your trip with your special someone, you can agree to spend time how ever you want to. You can agree to spend some time apart, doing your respective favorite activities. You can spend some time together just chilling, reading a book or looking at the fire… Everything is possible.
On a road trip, you make your own plans. No one dictates where you have to go so you have complete control on how to spend your time. Filling up your stomach and resting your eyes are the only time sensitive activities you really have!
You can choose the activities you want to do
It’s not always people who are draining your energy. Too much stuff going on can get confusing and overwhelming.
On a road trip, you get to pick and chose the activities you want to participate to, the places you’re ready to handle.
A good ‘introvert day’ might look like: a morning spent doing yoga and meditation, an afternoon spent visiting a castle or a museum even if filled with people and an evening with a good book & a bonfire of course.
Another good combination? A morning stroll at the market to refill your food stock and a bit of shopping in the busy but so charming streets of the close-by city, followed by a nice quiet hike in the forest in the afternoon!
On a road trip, you are independent
Everything is said, right?!
This is especially true if you’re well prepared and pretty much self-reliant. You can explore my Road Trip like a Pro section to step up your game!
Yeah, well you’ll still need to put gas in your car every now and then.
There can be a lot of driving involved
Picture this: open roads, no other cars, lost in your thoughts! A dream come true, right?! And if you’re lucky, you’ll be in a beautiful surrounding.
I know it sounds a little unrealistic because there are traffic jams pretty much in all countries, but you’re learn to avoid those!
There is often a lack of wifi / cell signal!
Yeah, it can be a good thing to have little cell phone signal! People won’t be able to call you and they will use introverts’ preferred mode of communication: text. If they still call, you can decline the call without feeling guilty.
You can be as quiet as you want
Extroverts tend to consider introverts as too quiet. They may even judge them and silently (or not silently) call them weirdos. When on a road trip, you can just avoid those people! Anyway you dont need to care, you’ll never see them again! Hooray!
You’ll probably manage to go unnoticed most of the time… so double hooray!!
The sweet sound of silence
Go deep into the woods, stay there and camp if you wish to, and just be alone!
Birds chirping, wind blowing into the leaves of the trees, a river trickling in the distance… no human in sight, no bear either.
Heaven on Earth!
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You see from this list that, the freedom that you can have from having your own mode of transport, your own moving personal space, is simply ideal for introverts!
Maybe you knew that all along. Personally, I just realized why this has become my favorite way of seeing the World!
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If you need help organizing your next road trip, I have hand-drawn maps available for you and I’ve shared and will continue to share all sort of tips on how to road trip and how to stay green. Hope you find these useful.
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