The other day during a date night, after one of my (especially frequent lately) rambles/rants, my wife shared this concept of “talk-to-thinkers” and “think-to-talkers” which was new to me.

A talk-to-thinker has to express their thoughts out loud in order to process them; a think-to-talker has to process their thoughts internally before sharing them. In other words, the former speaks to be able to come to a conclusion, whereas the latter speaks once they’ve reached one.

Being someone without an inner voice, I am very much a talk-to-thinker. I think out loud all. the. time.

But to the outside world, especially folks I met later in life, I may seem like not much of a talker at all. Social anxiety tends to creep in, and I become reluctant to say the wrong thing or create an awkward moment, so I don’t say much of anything at all (and therefore am not really thinking much either — except ‘get me out of here’).

I am working to change that. Leaning into the uncomfortable to reach the comfortable. Letting myself be myself.

Then again, how am I not myself? (I so need to rewatch that movie.)

current mood: thoughtful

current music: ben gibbard and tom howe – frightening fishes