Shopping makes me sick

Quiet people have the loudest minds.

~ Stephen Hawking

Some people get a dopamine high from shopping. Not me.

I have a lot of energy, but spending more than an hour in a shopping mall completely drains me. Meanwhile, my husband, an extrovert, is energized in such an environment.

For introverts like me, Malls present sensory chaos: bright lights, loud noise, choice overload, artificial scents, crowds, small talk from salespeople, and zero quiet space to process my thoughts.

To further clarify the magnitude of difference in our personality types, when we were building a cottage and my husband was being treated for stage 4 cancer, when out shopping for floors, appliances, lighting, etc, I was exhausted, and somehow his battery was completely recharged.

Once, I joined a group of women for a weekend shopping trip. These women shopped happily all day long. I found myself sitting at a coffee shop reading a book.

I enjoy company and thoughtful conversation, and I love nice clothes, shoes and decorative items. But for me, less is more. When shopping, I prefer a quick planned trip and then seek recovery time at home.

Needless to say, Black Friday shopping is not on my to-do list today.