Today I stretched myself a bit. I tried out a silent bookclub sponsored by a little local independent bookstore, Read Books, housed in MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art). I’d read about the concept some time ago and was intrigued by this introvert-style approach to shared reading, so when I saw there was a meeting locally, it was at the top of my list of little risks I’d like to take. And it combined some of my very favorite things—books, art, local businesses and checking out new places and spaces.
It was a stretch because I normally would have tried to find someone to go with me in a situation where I have to interact with people, none of whom I know. It’s not that I don’t enjoy people or that I don’t love doing many things on my own, but I’m terrible at small talk and I’m never one to just walk up to a group and introduce myself. My introversion is often a surprise to people who know me professionally or to those who originally meet me in a family or close friend group where I can be very engaging, assertive and even loud. What it’s really about for me is the energy I spend interacting with others and the challenges I face staying on the surface of things.
This, however, felt like a pretty manageable risk. There was just a little interaction required up front when you introduced yourself and told a bit about what you were reading, so I could ease myself into talking with folks over time, if I chose to go back. This was growth for me because I was doing something new and a bit uncomfortable, so creating a new neural connection. There’s a lot of science that tells us that stepping a bit outside of our comfort zone can keep our brain active and even help fight things like dementia. And it was healing for me because it was showing myself and the Universe that I am open to new experiences and making new connections. You can’t meet new people if you don’t leave the house!
So, I expanded my horizons by paying attention to what I was pulled toward and visiting a new place. It felt like the beginning of something, whether it be there or somewhere else, and it was so wonderful to be able to sit and read in such a beautiful space. Not to mention I saw several books I wanted to grab in Read Books’ lovely little collection. Counterintuitively, I found myself craving more interaction. There are often surprises in the blossoming. 🌸✨
I think I shall return next week.
Internal Luminosity 
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