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Introversion, Introspection, and the Emotions of an INTJ—a ton of tags

by Sarah Baran

That title sounds way cooler than the actual post.

*cough* Hello, my minions.

I’ve had a couple of tags floating around in cyberspace for some time now, and with yet another addition to that stack, I thought it high time I did a compile post and shove the brilliant depths of my intellect out into the sunlight for all internet eyes to see.

Welcome, folks, to Tag Monday with Sarah.

…that didn’t sound nearly as epic as I had hoped.

Anyway, our first benefactor today is none other than Hope herself, bringing us the Eclipse Tag. Thankee kindly, m’lady, for bestowing such an honor upon my humble personage.

The rules are as follows:

  • Thank the person who nominated you for this tag.
  • List the rules so the next nominees will know them.
  • Include the ‘Eclipse’ image somewhere in your post.
  • Answer the 3 questions, and ask 3 questions for the next people.
  • Nominate 3 people, and make sure they find out that they have been nominated.

Let us begin.

eclipse-tag

What is your favorite month?

Anything that isn’t winter.

(And June.)

What is one of your clearest memories?

Ummm… Probably something really undramatic, like barfing up broccoli cheddar soup as a toddler. Or falling on my face while roller-blading as a four year old and busting my lip open. Or getting a bike.

Getting a bike was a bright day.

What is your least favorite school subject? (PE doesn’t count)

What if I want PE to count?

My least favorite school subject is Physical Education.

And math.

Come to think of it, my least favorite school subject is school, in general.

So there.

 

tell-a-story-tag-image

This next tag is from Starling, and it’s a rather interesting one.

Rules:

  • Include the tag image in your post
  • Tell a one paragraph short-story based on the theme your nominee gives you
  • Give ONE theme for your tagged bloggers to write a story about
  • Tag 3 or more people
  • Let your nominees know you tagged them

 

Theme: Emotions

Let it be known that I was not cut out for this sort of theme. *curls her heartless self into a ball and whimpers*

 

Crying… crying was hard to explain. How could she clarify that it wasn’t sorrow washing her cheeks with tears, and likewise, the smiles that danced upon her mouth weren’t from joy? When her spirit was down and the depths of her soul begged for mercy, her strength rose like a spring sunset and the tears came as healing rain—cleansing the darkness and washing her heart anew. But when she smiled—that was a dangerous thing. When she smiled, it was because the rain had not come. The drought had settled instead. And behind the sunny exterior, her heart was burning up from the fires of a soul that has no relief.

 

Well that was… dark.

Moving on.

 

sunshine-blogger-award.jpg

Aaaaand last but not least, I was tagged by Liv—who, by the way, just started her blog, so GO LOOK THAT UP, and be blessed by her gorgeous logo.

The Rules:

  1. Answer the eleven questions
  2. Nominate other bloggers
  3. Ask them eleven more questions

 

1. What was the last book you read, and did you enjoy it?

If you’ve been following this internet train-wreck for a some time, you may or may not have picked up on my slight (okay, MAJOR) aversion to Tolkien’s book The Silmarillion.

Well.

I finished reading it a few weeks ago. And let it be known that this book made it onto my list of Top Ten Favorites. I genuinely have no clue what my problem was before.

It’s good.

Really good.

Good as in, I haven’t shut up about all those insane, murderous, and ethically incompetent elves for three weeks, and my family has learned all of Middle-Earth’s history by proxy.

And for the record, Beleg didn’t deserve that.

2. Do you have a favorite sport?

YES!

Reading.

Turning pages is rigorous, man.

3. What was the last thing you ate? Did you like it?

I want to say ice-cream so the health nerds can glare at me, but sadly, it was not ice-cream. I’m pretty sure the last thing I ate was a cracker or something. It tasted… crackery.

4. What is one of your biggest pet peeves?

Um, stupidity? People, in general? Unhygienic practices, like not covering your mouth when you sneeze?

…stupidity?

5. How do you behave in a public setting, or in a place with a lot of people you don’t know well?

Turn up the collar of my trench coat and stare creepily from behind dark glasses.

Or at least, I would, if I actually had those things.

Otherwise, I simply try to exude an aura of ‘cool and aloof’ to avoid the possibility that someone might endeavor to strike up a conversation, whereupon they’d blow my cover and realize I’m just another Average Awkward American.

6. If you were a character in a book, how would you describe yourself to another person?

She was jagged lightning in an open field—a burst of blazing silence and deadly power. Raw, burning, untamed. A calculated mind whirred behind eyes of electricity, but she was dangerous by the very unpredictability of those thoughts. If emotions were like fire, she was ice. If humanity was soft, she was barbed wire. If the world were to burn in the flames of its own stupidity, she would watch it fade with only a shake of her head and a smirk on her lips as she turned back to reading her book.

But after the initial, blinding shock of her cynicism, the crackling intensity was gone, replaced by the empty field and chill of the autumn breeze. And where once had been sharp edges and cold composure, there was only charred grass.

 

Describing myself to be way cooler than I actually am is a hobby of mine.

7. What is your dream life?

To live up in the mountains somewhere and become a hermit.

8. Who are some of your favorite music artists?

When people ask me this, all I usually end up doing is staring blankly, saying, “Music? I don’t listen to music,” and then dumping a bunch of Audiomachine on them.

I mean, seriously.

 

 

9. What aspect of blogging do you enjoy the most?

Making fun of the world.

And, you know, connecting with people and bringing joy to their Thursdays.

But mostly making fun of the world.

10. Do you prefer being with people or keeping to yourself more?

Depends on your definition of “people”. If I know them, then yes, let me at ’em. If I don’t know them…

*dives across the room and hides under the couch*

11. What part of writing do you struggle with the most?

Uh… ALL OF IT?

Technically speaking, there isn’t one particular area I struggle extensively with; I’ve had countless problems with certain characters and points in my plot, but never a specific area of writing—like, say, show-don’t-tell—that I just couldn’t figure out no matter how long I busted my brain.

I think my biggest challenge isn’t related to a writing principle at all, but keeping up an optimistic attitude and trusting God with the outcome of my stories. I have a tendency to worry that the grand, thematic epics I see in my head will fall flat when translated to paper, because I don’t have the capacity to tell them right. I’m constantly battling my brain to remember that if God wants to touch people with my writing, He’ll do it, regardless of how good of a writer I actually am.

It’s tough stuff. Hopefully, I’ll get there eventually. He’s teaching me a lot of things about real life through this stupid book of mine, so that’s gotta count for something.

 

 

So… YAY! There it is. I’m not going to tag anyone else (mostly because I don’t feel like scrounging up 11 people…) but if anyone wants to do one of these tags, feel free to reuse the questions.

Happy Monday, guys, and see you all on Thursday!

*flounces out like a bolt of lightning*

~Sarah

 

45 thoughts on “Introversion, Introspection, and the Emotions of an INTJ—a ton of tags”

    1. *solemnly pats your head* Now now. You and I both know that deep down inside, past all that scary stuff, I’m really just a big fluffy hippo who trips over her computer cord and and says “momensity” when she really means “immensity”.

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      1. I don’t have an eyeroll emoji that translates in this setting, otherwise I’d be using it. *ginormous eyeroll* Yes yes. It’s a comfort. And after all, that was a character description, and it’s a fact universally acknowledged that characters have to be more intense that real people.

        *cough* Sometimes.

        The momensity of that statement is not very overwhelming.

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        1. *feels the tremors of your ginormous eye-roll even through the computer screen**winces*

          It’s a fact universally acknowledged that characters have to be more intense than real people, unless the real people happen to fall into the green category of MBTI. My family can vouch for this. 😂

          And I CAN be quite intense if I desire to be so… I’m generally just too lazy. *shock shock* Imagine that.

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  8. You poor INTJ! I can’t believe they gave you the theme of emotions – that’s cruelty in its basest form.

    Oh, and I loved the post!

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  9. 😹
    If you can write yourself as an epic character, why not? Perhaps one day that character will be come so epic and amazing they end up in your book (You’re welcome Kay Waters). 😋
    When do you plan on showing your poll results?

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    1. I’ve always kinda wanted to be like Jane Austen, and name all my most wonderful characters Sarah… Despite being incredibly narcissistic, I think it would be a hoot.

      *gazes innocently at the sky**cough* You might want to keep your eyes peeled this Thursday. *continues to gaze innocently*

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  10. Hi Sarah!

    So, these tags are really great. I may use the story one, but you didn’t give me a new theme. Could you just randomly think of some really genius idea that sounds kind of boring at first, but I can turn into a masterpiece that blows the socks off both me and everybody else? That might be a bit difficult, as masterpieces don’t fly from my fingers very often, but could you try, oh Word Master?
    And I listened to that audio-machines piece. I was listening to it as a second violin player, and let me tell you, those second violinist are glaring at you. Don’t you hear them sawing away, not just on one note, but all over the violin?! Appreciate the classical violinist forced to perform fiddling feats while in an austere, regulated setting. It certainly sounds nice, so I’m sure that’s all that matters. But I can’t help imagining the violinist getting their sheet music, sitting down, practicing, and only after hours of grueling practice do they together with the orchestra and find out they are just making background noise most of the time, albeit exciting and interesting. The theme and the part everyone notices and hums along with it soaring along beautifully above them (or beneath them, depends on where you’re standing.) But yes, very nice music. A good stirring piece. Very nice.

    ~Akir

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    1. Write about plumbing.

      *bows* You’re welcome.

      And for the record, I noticed the back-up violins as well. Those poor troopers… Back-ups really just don’t get enough love. Especially since they’re almost as important as the main instruments—just not as noticeable.

      There’s a life-lesson to be found in that, I think.

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      1. Done. Check out my blog. I have written about plumbing.

        And yes, there are many life lessons to be found by studying second violins (or what you are calling back-up violins). Can’t say I’ve learned them all, but I’ve skimmed through that textbook a few times. 🙂

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  11. This was epic. And I just found a new favorite music artist. Thank you, other Sarah who shares the wondrous personality that is the majestic INTJ.
    (Oh, and just so you know, I’m stealing these tags. *bows*)
    ~The OTHER Sarah.

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      1. And I am more than happy to receive the tags from you, my perspicacious INTJ friend. *bows* Thank for the lovely addition to my music. Has thou heard of a delectable little man called Petteri Sainio? His music is superb.

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        1. I hadn’t before, but after binge-listening to all his stuff, I can quite honestly say that you have once again proved yourself worthy of this most irradiant personality type you possess. Man. I think I’m going to go conquer the world.

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  12. Pingback: tell a story tag + who is God to you? tag – peeking through a kaleidoscope

  14. It’s always great to read your posts. I’m planning on doing the Tell a Story Tag thing, by the way, so I’ll just say you nominated me, but I was wondering if you could give me a new theme? Also, I’d like to say that you are awesome. You know, just in case you forgot. XD

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  15. I’m thinking about doing one of these, but how does it work exactly? Am I able to tag people in my post or do I have to contact them? Can you explain this to the catwing from another dimension who doesn’t know how this works? Please? :3

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    1. Tags are basically just a way of getting your blog name out there—when you’re tagged, you have to give credit to the blogger who tagged you, as well as supply a link to their site, which encourages people to check them out. Likewise, when YOU tag other people, they’ll do the same for you, encouraging THEIR followers to look at YOUR site. It’s basically just a fun marketing scheme. 😉

      The rules, as I’m sure you’ve worked out, are pretty straightforward. As far as tagging other people… TECHNICALLY, all you have to do is say something like, “I TAG SUCHANDSUCH!” and add a link to their site—but if they’re not actively reading your blog, chances are, they probably won’t know about it. I’ve seen two ways people notify their nominees: they drop a comment on one of their recent blog posts saying “yo, I tagged you,” or they send an email through the comment form saying… “yo, I tagged you.” It’s pretty simple.

      I’ve got a couple more tags I’ll be doing soon—if you want, I could tag you for one of them. 🙂

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      1. Ahh… that makes sense, thanks for explaining it.
        Marketing the fun way. 🙂

        Sure you can tag me, if you want to. That could be fun and you would actually be able to tag someone this time (which if I remember from going back and reading all your posts, was only once. *grins* I think I finally figured out sarcasm too. Maybe… You have been very helpful. :3 ).

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  17. :’D
    Hehe. Nice description of yourself. (sounds kinda like Galadriel. Just a tiny bit 😉
    Also,
    Beleg
    Totally
    Deserved
    Better
    *wrings out tissue*
    So did Turin, though. Just saying. *hugs them both*
    OH OH OH
    *this isn’t entirely relevant but eh*
    So, I am reading The Fall of Gondolin right now, and there is a part which talks about the Final Battle of Middle-earth (aka AFTER the downfall of Sauron, so I guess when Middle-earth ends? Holy cheese puff that sounds sad) and it talks about TURIN, aka a human, aka a being who cannot go to Valinor (except Earendil but he had a sort of punishment) (not that riding through the stars in a boat with a jewel sounds like punishment but eh) FIGHTING MORGOTH (who eventually breaks loose and starts wreaking havoc again) and anyway Turin kills Morgoth but can we stop and take a moment to realize that TURIN IS IN VALINOR???? HE CAME BACK?????
    *Dies*
    Also, sorry, you may already have read The Fall of Gondolin and may already know all this, BuT sTiLl

    Note: I was too lazy to put accent marks over the “u” in “Turin” and the “a” in “Earendil.” So yea.

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