A Day (And Lifetime) Of Overthinking

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I think too much.

I’ve always known this about myself, but a recent outing reiterated it.

Though overthinking is said to be an introvert trait, I’m sure plenty of extroverts master the art too. In fact, endless rumination is probably an equal opportunity affliction. For example, Mr. Rubin has introvert traits, yet he never overthinks anything. Other than perhaps why he married me.

Today’s post takes you on a pictorial journey of my most recent ruminations at a place where, oddly enough, no thinking should be required at all: the Ohio State Fair.

Please. Somebody stop me.

Too late…

ohio state fair sign 2

 

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grout and me 2

 

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deep fried gummies 2

 

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flashing chief wahoo 2

 

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pig race 2

 

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fat pig race 2

 

Are you an overthinker? Or do you let go of thoughts faster than a pig at a pig race?              

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Rubin4Carrie Rubin is the author of The Seneca Scourge and the upcoming Eating Bull. For full bio, click here.

318 Responses to “A Day (And Lifetime) Of Overthinking”

  1. kdcol

    Guilty of analysis paralysis right here so I’m thinking that’s due to over thinking, right? I mean, I guess so. My husband can be the same so then NOTHING gets done around the house. We spend too much time thinking about the best action plan or the best windows, concrete, you name it. Eventually one of us does bite the bullet though. 🙂

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Haha, two in one household? Oh man, that’s rough. At least I have my husband to tell me, “You’re overthinking it. Let it go.” Can’t imagine if we were both constantly rehashing things. 🙂

      Thanks for reading and commenting!

      Like

  2. Luanne

    I confess. I am a complete and utter overthinker and am accused of such constantly especially by underthinker hubby. Actually I should call him that–it’s just that he never shows anyone else that he’s thinking. And I think in questions all the time. I can’t help that the excess questions shoot out of my mouth at a rate that is embarrassing.

    Like

  3. aliceatwonderland

    Overthink? Me? Yes. I think that’s why I have a blog, so I can overthink on the great issues like – they actually sold a doll on ebay with a missing head? And it goes on all day long like that. My husband, on the other hand, can literally sit and not think at all. This makes me think even more – like how can he do that? Do all males do that? Where is my brain off switch?

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      I’ve had several male commenters tell me they overthink too, so it doesn’t seem to be a gender thing. But like you, my hubs can sit and think of nothing at all (other than perhaps whether he wants Chipotle or pizza…), even after a stressful day. Oh, how I envy that!

      Like

  4. L. Marie

    Oh my word, this is hilarious!!! I especially relate to the deep fried comment. 🙂 I always wonder who the first person was to deep fry something (and why they chose to do so).

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      And I never try deep-fried anything (well, other than an occasional fry or onion ring). Guess it must be tasty since they dump anything in there nowadays. 🙂

      Like

  5. Kate Johnston

    I’m constantly overthinking. I also talk to myself. I really hope that’s an introvert trait too, and not a sign that I’m going insane. Or, maybe I’m overthinking this . . .

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Haha, well, I’m not sure if talking to ourselves is an introvert trait. I haven’t started that yet. But I’m sure it’s only a matter of time…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Carrie Rubin

      That’s right! We’re psychological twins. I wanted to take it and find out if I got the same result, but when it told me the site would have access to my FB stuff, I chickened out. Not sure why, considering every time I order something on Amazon, an ad for it is in my FB sidebar within two minutes. Privacy is such an illusion.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. inezzen

    very funny. I too am a victim of constant re-thinking over analyzing and compulsion within the mind. I call it the cycle.

    Like

  8. Dawn Quyle Landau

    I’m a HUGE over-thinker! And, as you know, mostly an extrovert. Though, I would stress for the umpteenth time, I am a closet introvert. 😉 I just need to learn how to do thought bubbles and all the kool graphic stuff you do! I feel so clueless on that point… I’m missing the PNW state fair for the first time in 15 years… here in very hot Tel Aviv! Oh, how I miss the fried elephant ears and frozen bananas! And the horses, pigs, cows… oh the cows!

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Yeah, I kind of figured extroverts could be overthinkers too. Hope you’re continuing to have a great time in Israel. It’s so cool you’re there. Must be an amazing experience. Even without elephant ears and frozen bananas. 🙂

      Like

  9. philosophermouseofthehedge

    SO that’s where the racing pigs go in the summer? Always heard they were smarties. They race in Jan-Feb at the rodeo. (See now that’s a little weird, all the fairs going on now. It’ll be a bit before it’s cool enough for state/county fairs here.)
    I love your musings.
    The hat with hideous glowing image is a bit much. (Once the Indian logos meant respect for ones strongly independent, resourceful, and in tune with nature (at least around here) – until Disney got hold of them and turned them into stupid ugly cartoon images which carried over into how people thought. I think the Disney machine has a lot to be held accounted for in that respect..as well as altering some of the older fairy/folk tales almost beyond recognition.)

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      I never thought about Disney in terms of that caricature. I’m not sure how Chief Wahoo came to be, but it’s driven me crazy ever since we moved here. I find the image hideous and disrespectful. Luckily, the team no longer claims it as their mascot, but the image is still everywhere around Cleveland. Sigh.

      Liked by 1 person

      • philosophermouseofthehedge

        Even the image on Big Chief tablets was more appropriate. Chief Wahoo is hideous (was it created after a long night of drinking or what?) – they can use a Native American as a mascot – as honoring the good qualities like courage/determination and encouraging others to emulate those, but do it right.
        Yep, you are really surrounded there.

        Like

  10. Roy McCarthy

    Love the way you put this one together Carrie. The pig race must have been the pigment of some sick imagination 🙂 As to thinking I switch off the minute I leave the office and sort of drift away until 9am next morning.

    Like

  11. BunKaryudo

    I enjoyed the post, although I was stunned and shaken to learn that anyone would ever deep-fry a poor defenseless gummy bear. The horror!

    Like

  12. Alex Hurst

    I’m definitely an over-thinker, haha. It causes me a bit of anxiety when I don’t know a person well, because I can spend hours second-guessing what I told them, and building up their anger at foolish-old-me when in fact they never even thought twice about what I’d said. 😛

    Like

  13. Inion N. Mathair

    Mathair says I’m in my own head waaay too much. 😉 Luckily, writing has been very therapeutic and has helped me to narrow my thoughts into something a bit more constructive, but I still find myself stuck in my head. I have weird random thoughts and sometimes their inappropriate most of the time their just awkwardly humorous. I once thought introverts own the rights to this trait but I’m pretty sure my brother’s the same way and he’s an extrovert and a half. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Aquileana

    Haha! … That was hilarious and so witty…
    I´d say that maybe overthinking is said to be an introvert trait… But I´ll take it a little bit further and I would say that it is also a sign of intelligence and Ironic types of personalities at times…
    Deep Fried Gummy Bears 🐻 ?… I´ll fry a bunch of them soon… let´s see how they taste !… 😉
    Happy week ahead, dear Carrie. Best wishes! Aquileana 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Britt Skrabanek

    It’s a dangerous combo…overthinking mixed with observation. And, I think it’s something all of us writers are cursed with, honey.

    Sometimes I’ll bring up something so totally random at a work happy hour and the baffled expressions are legendary. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carrie Rubin

      Haha, I’ll do the same (though not at work happy hour, because I’m not a socializer…)–randomly bring something up to my hubs and kids. Then, when they look at me weird, I think, “What? Doesn’t everyone think that?”

      Thanks for the Twitter share!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Kourtney Heintz

    I love where you were and what you were overthinking too! Fabulous mix of pictures and quotes. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Kourtney Heintz

    I’m definitely an overthinker. It’s great for certain careers. Other times, it really slows the decision making process. 🙂

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Very true. I just read the book ‘Blink.’ Sometimes that overthinking can get us in trouble. We should have gone with our subconscious’s blink of a thought instead.

      Like

  18. earthriderjudyberman

    Carrie … If your husband is over thinking why he married you, it’s because you’re so darn funny and clever, and he can’t believe how lucky he is.

    I also am an over thinker. If my thought bubbles were visible, I might be in B-I-G trouble. Now, I’m contemplating what thoughts I would put to various sights I see. 😉 I nearly tried a fried snickers bar. Thanks goodnesss the zoo we went to no longer sells them.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Jacqui Murray

    Delightful. I can see thinking those same thoughts–and probably not saying them either.

    Question: I just did research on annotating images for my 2nd graders. Lots of apps allow adding those thought bubbles, which I think are a wonderful way to chat. What app did you use? Did you like it?

    I’m afraid to click ‘notify me of new posts’ because you’re getting so darn many comments on this, but–here I go!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carrie Rubin

      You’re brave to be notified of comments! I never check that box or else my inbox would explode. 🙂 Thanks for visiting!

      I photoshopped my head using Coral PaintShop and put the thought bubbles in with Windows Paint. I could put the thought bubbles in with Coral PaintShop–just haven’t taught myself how to do that yet. Windows Paint is very basic, so for now I switch back to that. Must get more skilled with Coral, but I don’t find it particularly user friendly.

      Like

  20. cindy knoke

    My daughter told me once, “You analyze people too much.”
    Now she is a psycho therapist too!
    Muuuuuaaaaaa!!!!!
    I just bought your book Carrie! That nurse on the cover gives be the heebie-jeebies…….This is a very good sign!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carrie Rubin

      Aw, thank you, Cindy. I really appreciate that! I hope you enjoy it. Better have some hand sanitizer on hand. 😉 (And the woman on the cover is actually a doctor. A very exhausted doctor…)

      Like

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