Do you identify as an introvert? Maybe you enjoy spending time alone, relish your downtime to recharge, enjoy reading a book, or love to stay in and curl up on a Friday night. This doesn’t mean you’re antisocial (let’s make that clear) or that you don’t enjoy being around others. It just means you want more quiet time than most people. You probably love hanging with close friends and family and relish having meaningful conversations and experiences. You even like small gatherings but need downtime after to be ready for the world again. Too many engagements in a row can wear introverts out. If this sounds like you, I have 8 havens in Houston, Texas for you to reset and recharge.
One note about why you might need to find your quiet spots amongst our wonderfully diverse city of Houston. The short of it is this: the introvert brain prefers and gets rewarded by quiet spaces, less intense activities, and energy-conserving situations. The brain pathway is longer, more complex, and internally focused. The introvert’s inner world is where they feel most at home. It can be hard to access your inner world in a large city with a hustle-bustle culture. So, having a few hidden gems you can venture to may be helpful.
Find Your Quiet Spot to Recharge as an Introvert in Houston, TX
The Menil Collection
The Menil Collection is a museum and neighborhood of art spanning 30 acres in the heart of Houston, Texas. Tucked away you will find a main gallery with four additional museum buildings, each designed and curated with intention. The aim is to foster a personal encounter with the works in the collection. Carefully chosen artworks in serene settings are a hallmark of the museum. This makes it a perfect escape for the introvert in you. John and Dominique de Menil were deeply spiritual and each space invites calm reflection and a connection to your deepest self.
The Cy Twombly Gallery
The Cy Twombly Gallery, a part of the Menial Collection created in collaboration between the artist and the Menils, represents their commitment to individual artists. There is a strong sense of quiet as you approach the gallery and when inside an immediate felt sense of wonder and calm. I notice the light and playfulness that emanate from the artist’s large-scale paintings and almost always tap into something larger than myself. Twombly loved writing and found inspiration in ancient history, geography, mythology, classical literature, and poetry. It’s no wonder that this space amidst the hustle and bustle of Houston, Texas brings warmth and grounding.
Green Spaces of the Menil
I want to mention the Menil green spaces as well. The outdoor expanse includes Menil Park along Mulberry Street, McGovern Green in front of the Cy Twombly Gallery, and a large grass lawn across from the entrance to the Menil Drawing Institute. All are free and open to the public. The Menil green spaces offer a haven for the introvert looking to bask in the beauty of nature. Bring a blanket, a picnic, a good book, and relax on the lawn right in the middle of Houston, Texas.
Rothko Chapel
The Rothko Chapel is a lovely spiritual space on the Menil grounds. It’s a forum for world leaders and a place for solitude and meaningful gatherings. It has become a destination for people of all faiths who visit from all parts of the world. Furthermore, the space contains 14 murals created by American artist Mark Rothko. Outside Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk rises above the reflecting pool on the plaza. The sculpture is dedicated to The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose active outer life in service of social justice resonated with founders John and Dominique de Menil.
The space is profoundly sacred, offering a place of calm and quiet amidst the simplicity and beauty of Rothko’s murals. It is a place of awe, a place to reflect, breathe, and go inward. I invite you to watch the video about the Rothko Chapel, as it’s a calming experience in and of itself. Go. Sit. Ponder. Reflect. Recharge.
Memorial Park
Memorial Park is 1,500 acres, nearly twice the size of Central Park, in the heart of Houston, Texas. One of the things I love about this park is the Memorial Park Conservancy’s dedication to the restoration of native ecosystems, reforestation, and tree care. You really get the feel of our natural southeast Texas landscape with the forest, prairie, and bayou shoreline. Houston is committed to restoring and preserving the park and it shows.
Start your day by walking The Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail at sunrise or find a quiet spot along the way to read or write. This trail is a 3-mile crushed granite trail complete with exercise stations along the way and a larger workout station located close to the tennis center. I love that trail running and mountain biking (mountains in Houston!) are available too, right here in the center of Houston, Texas. Seek out one of the trails and feel like the city is miles away. Activities to suit the introvert in you abound at Memorial Park.
The Japanese Garden in Herman Park
Located right by the Houston Zoo (a not-so-quiet place, but also an option for the introvert) is the Japanese Garden, a garden filled with Japanese camellias, cherry trees, maples, dogwoods, crepe myrtles, and azaleas. It’s easy to spend hours staring at the tranquil waterfalls spilling over rocks or gaze at the goldfish found in various dispersed ponds. Take a stroll, enjoy the beauty, and breathe in the fragrance. Here you can slow down, reset, and recharge.
Brazos Bookstore
Brazos Bookstore opened in 1974 with the goal of encouraging the growth and development of the emerging Houston literary scene. They have a clear focus on personalized service, community engagement, and passionate curation. It’s a hub for the most creative, intelligent, and engaged readers in Houston, Texas. Not all introverts like to read but in my experience most are insatiable readers. Brazos Bookstore has that warm and inviting feel of a locally owned bookstore. One curated with love, devotion, and care for the human soul. Go to browse, buy, or simply be in the welcome and peaceful space of this local bookshop in Houston.
Rice University Loop
Lastly, there is Rice University Loop. Recharge under the shady oak trees that line Rice University. This is a 3-mile granite and dirt trail nestled in the midst of Houston, Texas. The route is scenic with public artwork, the stunning architecture of the university, and the inviting landscapes of the surrounding homes. Close to the medical and museum district the Rice Loop offers a lovely escape for the introvert seeking a moment of refuge. If you feel adventurous wander through the campus. While it can be bustling with students there are many pockets of solace and beauty to be found.
Let Houston, TX Be Your Calm Place
Houston, Texas is the 4th largest city in the United States. It’s a dynamic and ever-changing city full of life and all the busyness and chaos that comes with a large city. Large cities can be a challenge for the introvert. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, moving from one activity to the next. Sometimes, this is even necessary. Certain stages of life call for more engagement than others. Are you in a busy season of life or do you find yourself anxious more often than not? If so, then I invite you to seek out some of these spaces that offer a calm grounding in the midst of a fast-paced life.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, amped up, and cannot find your calm, reach out. As an introvert, you may find your system on overdrive. And, if this goes on too long it can take a toll on your life. I would welcome offering a space of complete safety for you. A space where you can take a deep breath and learn to tap into the strength that comes with your remarkable traits.
I find that online therapy and walk-and-talk therapy are particularly fitting for an introvert. We can find a quiet space outdoors (maybe one of the above) and revel in nature while going deep or meet online. Many of my clients with these traits love online therapy. They relish staying in the comfort of their home surrounded by touchstones, pets, and the warmth of their curated space. No hustle and bustle to get to the appointment. Only a moment to create your quiet space so you can think, process, and go deep.
Find Peace and Embrace Your Traits With The Help of Therapy for Introverts in Houston, TX!
If you’re ready to begin therapy and think we may be a good fit, reach out for a phone consultation. I would be honored to work with you. I provide a wide array of therapeutic services that extend beyond therapy for introverts. Whether online in Texas or in a Walk-and-Talk session, you can access a flexible and convenient way to delve into your inner world. In addition to Therapy for Introverts, I offer Individual Therapy for Relationship Issues, Trauma Therapy, and more! Begin your journey toward healing and growth by reaching out today. Find more articles like this on my blog!
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