Y Ddraig Goch

May 13 2025 - Social Battery

Prompt: What drains your energy in your life? And in what ways can you stay grounded in stressful situations?

****

People – people drain my energy on a daily basis. I am actually a very good conversationalist (or can be if I decide to be social). I can be witty and charming. The life and soul of the party. Make everyone feel wonderful about themselves. Heard. Validated. But then I must retire to a dark room and hide from any form of human interaction. Socialising drains my battery. And my patience – which isn’t very high to begin with. It takes a lot of energy, particularly with people I don’t know or like.

My dilemma is that my face has subtitles and a voiceover. There is no misinterpreting the message once the battery is at zero – it is written in every eye twitch and raised eyebrow. I often wonder if today is going to be the day I get fired after group calls at work – or if anyone is concerned about my eyes rolling… out of my head… when we have to listen to another over inflated, ego who is too preoccupied with self-importance. I do not hide my emotions or thoughts well.

I have learnt to bite my tongue – it’s hard, because the sarcastic side of me has witty comebacks locked and loaded 99% of the time. Yes, I am one of those people. The ones that deal with stress with British sarcasm and a dry, dark and twisted sense of humour (usually combined with tea, chocolate, or both). It’s an acquired taste (the attitude not the hot beverage or sweet treat).

I also cannot think of anything worse than wasting my time with people whose company I do not enjoy. I am too old for that. I have comfy PJs and slippers to be in. My level of tolerance - or selfishness - in the matter has got more severe with each passing year. And it is something I fully embrace.