I Love People and They Exhaust Me.

Written By Noel Rippe

I had a revelation this week.

 

Not a spiritual or a business revelation.
A personality-saving one.

 

Turns out I’m not moody.
Not antisocial.
Not “too sensitive.”

I’m an ambivert. (Yes, that’s a thing. And no, nobody told me sooner.)

 

Here’s how I found out 🫥

 

My husband and I recently became benefactors of an incredible film festival here in José Ignacio, Uruguay.
We support the cause.
We’re in awe of the young, wildly talented organizers.
And since Leo is a filmmaker… it feels deeply, soul-level right.

 

José Ignacio is a tiny fishing town on the Uruguayan coast.
Our country of origin.
About 300 homes. That’s it. The festival brings 10.000 people to our town in one week!
Which means during festival week, you don’t just attend the festival.

You live inside it.

You see the same people:

  • At the movie screenings

  • Getting coffee

  • Grabbing empanadas

  • On your morning walk

  • At the gas station

  • Debating films… again… lovingly… passionately… loudly

For an extrovert like Leo? This is pure ecstasy.

 

During festival week, my husband looks like he’s been plugged directly into the fountain of youth.

 

He talks to everyone.
He chats.
He hangs out.
He debates cinema like it’s an Olympic sport.
He comes home glowing.

Meanwhile…
I’m smiling.
Nodding.
Being charming.

And secretly thinking:
If one more person asks me what I thought of that documentary, I might lie down on the sidewalk.

That’s when it hit me.

I love people.
I love conversations.
I love connection.

But I also love:

  • Quiet mornings

  • Long walks alone

  • Not speaking

  • Recharging in silence like a phone on airplane mode

That’s what an ambivert is.
Someone who lives right in the middle of introvert and extrovert.

You get energy from people…
and
You lose energy from people.

You’re social — just not endlessly social.
You shine — but then you need to retreat and refill.

And once I had the word for it? Everything made sense.

Why I can lead rooms, workshops, communities…
And still need space to breathe afterward.

Why I adore connection…
But choose depth over noise.

Why I’m not broken.
I’m just wired with a rhythm.

So if you’ve ever thought:

  • “Why do I love people but also need a break from them?”

  • “Why does everyone else seem fine and I’m exhausted?”

  • “Why do I crave connection… but on my own terms?”

Welcome. You might be an ambivert too.

And honestly? It’s a beautiful place to live.

— Noel

PS: If you see me at a film festival smiling and then mysteriously disappearing… now you know why 😊

Noel Rippe
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