Introversion

I've always been the type who's been quiet. You know, the one who doesn't speak much, the one who doesn't go out of their way to talk to people.

For a while, I had always thought that I was just 'shy' and that being shy was a problem. I can't tell you how many times I've had people ask me "Why are you so quiet?"
It's not that I don't want to talk to you, I just interact with people differently.
I think differently, I act differently.

I'm an introvert.

So many people in society have this idea in their head that life has to be all in your face, and that people have to be outgoing to have a good time. I disagree. I've gone to several shows by myself, and have gone out place by myself. It took me a bit to get used to it, but now I embrace being alone. Don't get me wrong, I love hanging around with my friends, but let's just say I'm not the type who wants to hang out all the time. I need space to think, I need space to be by myself.

When I read this article, called 'The Revenge of the Introvert', that's when it really hit home for me. This article just resonates with me in so many ways, I felt like I could relate to it in more ways than one.

People feel that you have to constantly talk to get a point across. So many people abuse their words. I think that people of few words, speak more meaningful words. Why? Because introverts, like the article says, think through in their heads what they are going to say. It's more likely that extroverts just blab out a stream of words in the spur of the moment.

When extroverts speak, it may be a bit overwhelming for introverts. Introverts need time to process thoughts, and people need to realize this. Like the article says, an introvert may say something, but then analyze it afterwards, wondering why they just said what they said, when they could have said it better. Or, they'll just simply become silent or nod their heads, since they need time to think before they speak. More people should try this, they'd be surprised.

The article says that introverts socialize in a different way. They talk to people, but they don't really feel the need to seek out a connection. Extroverts feel that they have to, because they thrive on connections and activities.

I may seem like I'm slamming extroverts, but I really wish that people would see that silence and being alone really isn't all that terrible. It helps you to get in touch with yourself, to really think things through.

What I'm trying to say is, if you know someone who's an introvert, don't immediately write them off as cold. They just live differently.