Easily Excitable

I was in 6th grade when I underwent the biggest change in my life. It was during this time that something struck and, all of a sudden, I became an extrovert. 

I like to think it was around the time that I discovered boys could be cute, rather than just fun to race on the playground. 

At any rate, I lost the shy, quiet, ‘I-would-rather-read-than-be-around-people’ demeanor I’d had since birth. 

If you find that hard to believe, just ask my mother. 

Now, it wasn’t ‘til about five years ago that I had language to express that:

It was then that I found the phrases introvert and extrovert.

An introvert gets drained by being in social situations and gets energized by being alone. 

An extrovert is the opposite: this person gets drained by being alone and is energized by socializing. 

Since discovering these words, I’ve been fascinated with this concept: I was raised by an introvert and an extrovert, and since my personality favors my Daddy’s in just about every way (Caroline and Walker were influenced more by Momma, it seems), I am an extrovert. 

I can be by myself for a bit, sure, but you want to see me in my best form? 

That comes when I’m around other people. 

Funnily enough, I thought I was an introvert until Covid. 

Let my stupidity sink in. 

However, after working from home for a total of a day and a half, I realized that I am most certainly NOT an introvert. 

My issue was that I was ‘peopled out’ from my job. 

I just didn’t much want to be around people after being around the teenagers all day. 

So, as always, the kids were the problem. 

Not me. 

Duh. 

After the isolation of Covid, though, I came to appreciate being around people a lot more. Needless to say that, in comparison to the loneliness of having to work from a computer at home all day, the kids didn’t look quite as bad. 

But, at any rate, here is what I’ve discovered: 

Fall is the perfect intersection for both introverts and extroverts. It’s the only season where this applies. 

Winter is for introverts: don’t give me all that silliness about the holiday season: yes, you have to be around your family. 

Duh.

But, really, Christmas is the only holiday in winter, and while it is a social time, it’s about the only one it offers up.

And, sure, too, there is NYE, but no one even celebrates that one anymore. Or…I don’t celebrate it…so obviously no one else does either. 

Spring and Summer? Those are extrovert seasons. 

Trey thinks that spring is a little bit of both, but I think it leans more heavily extrovert, as everyone is over the cold weather, sweaters, and inability to sit on a patio to enjoy a meal. 

Summer and spring hang their hats on communal gatherings, parties, and vacations to beaches where, if you choose to go out to eat, you will inevitably have a “45 minute to an hour wait” that will certainly last almost an hour and a half. 

Fall, though? This time of year is for everyone. 

I’ve never tried to hide the fact that I love fall: it is, without a doubt, my favorite season. But, it seems to me that no one will ever say that fall isn’t a great season. 

Folks will complain about the summer and its humidity. 

Folks (me being chief among them) will complain about the winter with all of its bleakness. 

Folks will complain about the spring and its allergies. 

But you would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t like the fall. 

And I have a theory why.

Sure, the weather is great. 

The fact that there are so many dishes you can make with various squashes is unparalleled. 

And a waffle-knit material might just be the most comfortable fabric of all time. 

But I don’t think these are the primary reasons. 

I think fall is the fan favorite because it welcomes both introverts and extroverts. 

It’s got it all for all people. 

Introvert or extrovert, fall has you covered with manifold activities.

For the introverts out there

Fall knows that you get exhausted from all the people-time you have in any given day/ week. So, this season brings a bounty of events you can do all by your lonesome:

Blankets and books

Fall is a great reading season. Summer has the time for reading, but I would argue that fall has the atmosphere for it. 

Reading in the fall hits different. 

It’ll finally be cool enough to cozy up under a blanket without having to turn your AC down to 55 to mimic a cool day. Plus, the grass doesn’t grow at such an astronomically fast rate, so you can be lazy without feeling guilty about all the outside chores you need to do. 

Hiking

For anyone who’s an introvert and loves the outdoors, I don’t think you could find a better activity than hiking. It’s just you and nature. 

You might come across a bear, but after working all week and exhausting your energy on people, that might be preferable for some of your introverts out there. 

Changing leaves, immaculate views, and cool weather make fall the perfect time for this.  

Soups

Okay, hear me out: if soups were people, they would be introverts. 

The thought of eating soup in the summertime makes me sweat just by considering it. Fall is a great time for any soup, and while tailgate food screams “SOCIALIZE,” a nice soup bears none of those expectations. 

The coziest, most introverted soup, you ask? It’s got to be potato soup. 

Hiding from trick-or-treaters

I was raised by an introvert (my mother), so when we lived on Berkley Road, we were guilty a few times of turning off the lights and acting like no one was home. 

There is considerable energy that must be expended when you have entire families coming to your door to shake you down for candy, I guess. 

Scary movies 

I’m not a scary movie fan: I am a coward. But if ever you wanted to get a little spooky, fall is the time to do it. Again, I just don’t understand it: working at a high school can be a little horrific unto itself, so why would I intentionally scare myself??

At any rate, you adrenaline junkie introverts can live your best scary life without having to make a trip to your local haunted house where (inevitably) all the teenagers will go for their weekend fun. 

Now, for the Extroverts 

Now, we get into all the activities for all the extroverts out there- all those people who get their energy from being around other people. If you’re a social butterfly, fall loves you, too. 

Football games + Tailgating 

I put both the tailgating and the game itself here for a reason. 

See, I love a tailgate: I want to fellowship and run my mouth to no end about menial things. I also love a good dip and a crockpot meatball. 

That, to me, is the best part of football season. I love the Georgia Bulldogs, and I will always cheer them on. But the games are a great social centerpiece you can build around. 

Don’t kill me for saying this, but if I never make it to Sanford Stadium again, I’ll be okay. 

Sitting in a stadium in the cold or heat? I think I can actually do without. 

I can see better from our (or a friend’s) home. I have a comfy seat. I can chit chat. 

I love a vibe, but I can do without having to be at an actual stadium to achieve that vibe. 

Weddings 

Trey and I got married in the fall, so I’m partial to it. Now, I love a wedding at any time of the year, and I will always be comfortable (save for extreme cold). 

But watching men soak through their suit jackets with sweat at a summer wedding? That’s a different kind of comedy than you would normally expect to see when two people tie the knot. 

Again, I want to be where the people are, and a wedding gives me that opportunity. 

Plus, you can do a lot with a fall color/ floral scheme. Mums and gourds galore? Yes, please. 

Festivals 

Christmas Made in the South, Trunk or Treat, Country Fest, general fall festivals, craft shows, farmers markets, music festivals-

I never met a festival or fair I didn’t love.  

I want events. 

I want booths and tables. 

I want crowds of people surrounding me. 

I want to bask in the smell of fried foods. 

It all sounds like a good time to me: this, folks, is how I want to spend my fall Saturdays. 

Pickleball 

The most social and most dear-to-my-heart sport. We’re getting past the searing heat of the summertime, and pickleball becomes all the more attractive as we do. 

A crisp fall morning playing pickleball with your friends while knowing that you have a cut of meat on the smoker at home? 

All while looking forward to an afternoon watching college football? 

It fills me with a type of joy only fall can bring.

Introverts and extroverts? I hope you feel seen.

Fall has us covered. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

May the Georgia weather get the memo, may the Dawgs get the Natty, and may your fall be merry and bright (whether you’re surrounded by other people or not).