I have been an introvert all my life, long before I even knew there was a word for it. Before that, I was simply shy or backward. I was often content to leave the conversations to my more outgoing friends and family, hiding behind my parents or whomever was available.

I played with friends outside, just like every other kid my age, but I was equally as content staying inside reading a book or watching TV.

As an adult, I still roll the same way. I enjoy time out with my friends and family. But I just as much enjoy time at home with my books and Netflix.

With the stay at home order issued, I figured it wouldn't be too much of a problem for me to follow. I was able to work from home, the transition fairly seamless, with very little change. Though the communication between myself and my coworkers has dropped off a bit, something I sorely miss.

Staying inside, away from literally everyone, wasn't too bad in the first few days, first week at least. But now I'm going into week four and it's getting difficult, as I'm sure it is for everyone else. I know I'm not alone in it, I'm simply telling my story.

I'll tell you things I miss that certainly came as a surprise.

I miss seeing my coworkers everyday and talking about work and life and food (common topics in our office anyway). I miss laughing with them about stupid things. And trying to solve all the world's problems each night.

I miss seeing my family all the time, having dinner together and sitting around my parents' living room for hours, talking and watching my nephews play. I miss playing with them and listening to whatever stories they have to tell.

I miss going to the movies with my mom and eating our weight in popcorn. (Why is it that popcorn you make at home is never quite as good?) I miss eating at restaurants and going to the mall for no reason. I miss the simplicity of going for a walk around the park

I almost miss being among the crowds. Almost. I think it will take another couple weeks in quarantine before I really miss that. Introverted habits are hard to break.

What surprises me most is just how much I miss social interaction. What a strange thing. It was never something I considered before. I am one of many, I'm sure, who took it for granted.

I miss my people. The ones who make my life rich. The ones who fill it with laughter and love and warmth. I'm tired already. I find myself soul weary.

I know I have no place to talk. There are so many in far more danger than me. The ones on the front lines, not just in health care, though they're the ones I'm most worried about, but those in the restaurants and grocery stores and all other essential businesses still open to the public. My heart goes out to them. And I'm sure they are far more tired, far more soul weary, than I am.

I also know there are many currently battling depression. And time away from loved ones, from a support system, is bound to make it even worse. I wish I had some kind of sage advice to get you through. But I'm looking for that too. I try to take it a day at a time. Connect with whomever you can however you can: facetime, zoom, texts, phone calls...maybe resurrect letter writing. The point is to stay in contact with people and get as much social interaction as six feet apart will allow.

So I won't promise not to complain about traffic and crowds and it all being too much when the world is open again, that's just how my life as an introvert is. But it might just take me a little longer to do so. When we're allowed the chance, I'll go out with everyone else, eat in a restaurant, go see a movie, tell stories to my coworkers and hug my family.

I'll go out among humanity and then back home to my apartment to enjoy the quiet and the solitude, just as an introvert is meant to do.