If you’re anything like me, you love wasting your time on the Internet by taking irrelevant quizzes on Buzzfeed about your personality type. A lot of these quizzes deal with introversion versus extraversion. I am an introvert through and through. I lose energy in social situations and regain it in solitude by doing what I love and being creative.
However, introverts tend to get a bad rap. In fact, a lot of people associate introversion with being shy or even anti-social. A lot of people also assume that if an extravert is someone who is outgoing, confident, and the life of the party, then an introvert must be someone who is the complete opposite: timid, self-conscious, and a wallflower.
As an introvert, I’d like to settle the case here. Introverts can be everything an extravert can be when it comes to interacting with others: fun, talkative, energetic, warm, and bold. Introverts can enjoy going to parties and dancing and talking to others, even complete strangers. Introverts enjoy having Friday night plans and hanging out with other people.
But, introverts need their alone-time to simply regain their energy. Extraverts are energized by external stimulation like social functions, and introverts are not. Instead, introverts are energized by internal stimulation like reflecting on one’s inner thoughts and feelings. Oftentimes, this is why introverts are so creative–we inwardly reflect through our creative outlets in solitude. For me, that’s writing. That’s the main difference. It’s not that introverts don’t enjoy social functions, they just get tired after and need a moment to themselves–that’s it.
So, please be kind to your fellow introverts when they need a moment or even a night to themselves, especially after a long week. It’s just part of their nature.
TESS CARCALDI 