A year ago we started a dinner-time game in our house, it’s called the “Gratitude Game.” Willow, my almost 5 year old, freaking loves it and begs to play each night.

It started one week when Dustin had been working late nights, it was raining non-stop, and I was feeling lonely and a little deflated. Willow was also feeling out of sorts. I was thinking to myself that it’s up to me to teach her about feelings (which I do) but also tools to get us out of a funk. So, I told Willow how I was feeling a little sad and I wanted to play a game to help me be in a better mood.

The thing about introverts is, we generally internalise our pain because we don’t want to be a “bother” on people. Always the empath, we listen to other people, and we are there for them- but when it comes to communicating how we are, or if we need help with anything (whether big or small) it takes a lot for us to speak out.