Even Extroverts Retreat Sometimes
For someone who’s naturally extroverted, I’ve been surprised by how easy it is to retreat into my shell. Over the past few months, I’ve spent most of my time behind a screen—cold emailing clients, pitching projects, working alone. That solitude started to affect me in subtle ways. I’d pass someone on the street and think about saying hi or complimenting their outfit—but I’d stay quiet, not wanting to seem weird.
A couple of weeks ago, it hit me how much I’d been internalizing that fear of being perceived. And it made me realize—extroverted or not, we all need to practice connection. If we don’t, we default to comfort. And comfort can be isolating.
So I made a small commitment: talk to one stranger a day. Say what’s on my mind. Within days, everything shifted. Strangers started approaching me. My posture changed, my energy felt different—warmer, more open. I shaved more often, dressed better, and just two weeks in, it suddenly felt effortless to connect again.
Then, two Saturdays ago, I came home from the dog park and felt the itch to shoot for fun. I walked past my neighbor’s shop—someone I’d never spoken to—and saw they were organizing a group bike ride and run. So I joined. Talked to a few people, grabbed my camera and my bike, and rolled with them.
It was medicine for my soul.
I felt electric the rest of the day. I mean, I biked over the Williamsburg Bridge highway. Never in my life did I think I’d do that. And it was the perfect excuse to shoot just for myself—no pressure, no brief, just connection.
At the end of the day, we’re social creatures. We’re meant to bond over movement and meals, not scrolls and screens.
Let me know if you’d like a more casual, professional, or emotional version—or if you want to add a call to action at the end (like encouraging readers to try the one-stranger-a-day challenge).
