Loner, creepy and probably identified at one point as "emo"—these were the characteristics I assumed made up someone who would be characterized as an introvert. And because of that, I always believed I was an extrovert. I have friends, I enjoy going out and have no problem talking to people. There was no way I could be ever identified as an introvert. That is, until, my therapist told me I was one (yes I see a therapist, I think we all need a good selfish hour every week or so). At first I balked, like I was rejecting the results of a BuzzFeed quiz. "Um no, I don't think I'm destined to be a gymnast based in my McDonalds order, but thanks!" That's how I felt, that there was no way she could gather from all our conversations that I was an introvert. I thought, "I pretty sure she knows I have friends, go out and only occasionally binge an entire show on Netflix, but everyone does!"

What she then explained change my perception of introverts and extroverts. And I know I can't base myself off being one kind of person or not, as my friend once shared with me, "This *runs hand down length of body* can't be contained!" But there is still a part of me that likes to be identified as something.

Anyway, my therapist went on to explain that introverts can still be social people; it's not as black and white as I originally thought. It's how they recharge that differs from extroverts. After a long week of work or internet trolling, extroverts hang out with friends or family, or partake in some kind of social experience to recharge their battery. As for introverts, we need to be alone, have some "me time" to recharge. After she said that I thought back to some memories and I thought that this PhD might have something there.

I love going out with my friends, but after a few hours of constant interaction and stimulation I find myself getting antsy and almost overwhelmed. I'll often run to the bathroom with my phone to just get a few quiet moments to settle my head—introvert.

Or sometimes on the weekends I look forward to running errands alone for three hours, just being by myself, going where I want to, at the pace I want to—introvert.

I even enjoy and look forward to longer car rides so I can listen to my music and drift off, (safely, still paying attention) and can quiet my mind and then continue on with my day—introvert.

Looking through all these instances I started to accept my label. I don't cling onto this fact, I haven't joined any introvert discussion boards on the internet, but now I just have a better understanding of who I am and how I respond to my environments. To recharge I need some alone time. Not because I'm angry at the world, don't like people or am severely depressed, just to bring it back to me for a moment. I think it's easy to get caught up in "labels" or trying to constantly "find who we are", but I think if we just look to better understand who we are, rather than how we fit in with others we might be more at peace with ourselves, as well as our environments.

I know I’ve felt better since coming to this conclusion. I used to really beat myself up that I would lose my mojo at a party, or thought I was a bad friend for not always wanting someone to hang out with me while I ran errands. After the discussion with my therapist I realized I was more normal than I thought. I just needed to accept me for me. Since then I have found it to be much easier to express my needs without all the guilt. I’m an introvert and proud of it…but I’ll still come to your party!