Introversion & Privacy

There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m introverted.

I fear we have been mislead by societal notions that a person who chooses not to engage fully in group settings is ill. This is not to be confused by someone who is actually suffering in silence. Introverts, like myself, simply need reserved amounts of “Alone Time” in order to better function in an extroverted world. Without it, one may find themselves burnt-out and unable to find pleasure in public settings.

There is no safer solace than the quiet of solitude for the loud of mind.  I often find my thinking overpowered by crowded work environments, cellular interruptions, or jovial dinner tables. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the relationships that I have built with the people around me, but rather that I appreciate my quiet time a little bit more. Recently I had neglected to steal away such precious moments in a schedule which left me restless, subdued, and overwhelmed.

“Are you okay?” my friends would ask.

“You look tired,” another would add.

"Do you miss your Love?"

“Is it because you're lonely or depressed?

Yet, the fatigued countenance they perceived was entirely my fault. I was exhausted of people. I wanted to be alone.

By allowing for privacy, I am gifting myself with the ability to recharge to the full capacity of my being which is: vibrant, happy, and inspired. Although I believe all persons should take sufficient time away from others, not everyone is considered an introvert. True introverts receive their vital life-energy by being left alone. We introverts do not solve our problems by elaborating on them in conversation; we do so by stepping away from anything unrelated to the issue and address the problem slowly and intently. We refuse to shout to be heard in long meetings or over meals because we know that a well-timed statement said with simplicity is just as effective (and won’t get us into trouble later). We often find our truth in the singular sense before acting in the forthright.

          

 Introverts are the loved ones to whom you can trust your secrets. They’re the friends that you invite into your home, but may not always show up to a party or big social gathering. They’re the prankster whose one-liners will have you laughing for weeks. For there is something quite powerful about the introvert who knows his or her place in the out-loud world. In the words of my favorite writer Lorraine Hansberry, one should “never be afraid to sit a while and think.” There is nothing wrong with the introvert. Perhaps we are the braver of mankind, who dare to be with only oneself and truly enjoy our own company.

"When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Wait for hope to appear. [Lamentations 3:27-28]