If you’re like me, then you probably don’t like to talk much and you’d rather keep to yourself. There’s varying degrees of being quiet and reserved; this is just what it looks like for me. We probably still face some of the same struggles.
One of the things I’ve noticed is that we are a target for talkative, outgoing people. They make it their goal to bring us “out of our shell”. While this is nice of them, it can make us anxious and uncomfortable sometimes. Another thing is the fact that large crowds can be daunting. I feel like an ant in a huge world. It also make us feel like we have to talk and engage. Not that we don’t want to, it’s just that we’d rather take crowds in small doses. Even more, we don’t mean to be rude at all, or seem like we don’t want to talk. Personally, I want to have conversations, but I would like to be ready for them. I don’t want to seem uninterested or short with you, which people can sometimes misinterpret quietness as. Along those lines, I can feel for you if you’re one of those types of quiet people who like to be in the mix, but just by watching and listening. I’m very observant that way and I can read people well.
Another struggle could be that we sometimes speak too softly. I always get “huh,” “what," and “can you repeat that?” which is fine because we just can’t help it. Furthermore, people always ask me if I’m okay because I’m not talking. Of course, I’d just rather let other people talk. I’ll occasionally put in my two-cents....maybe.
Reserved people value their alone time. I know I just like to be alone sometimes to process things and think. Which leads me to another struggle. I don’t know about you, but I tend to overthink things, especially little things. When I’m alone I start to go over the events that happened that day, and I start to wish I hadn’t done something or said something. It leads to negative thoughts and regret, which are unhealthy. In addition, a struggle could be that you may come off as being serious, depressed, or unsociable. This can make it hard to make friends, if some people automatically pass this judgement on you. I’m actually very silly and goofy, but I’ve been told many times that I look very serious.
When it comes to school, being in a discussion class is also a very real struggle. The instructor always wants to call on you because they want to hear what you have to say. Well, I would of raised my hand if I wanted to talk. When I am called on unexpectedly, I’m just nervous and can’t think clearly, so I may not give the answer that the instructor is looking for. Lastly, you’ve probably heard the saying “watch out for the quiet ones” but let’s get this straight. Not all quiet people are going to explode one day with anger and do horrible things. They say it’s because we hold things in. Well, some quiet people like myself, find a select few friends who they can trust and talk to so they can let things out and let their voice be heard. So, find yourself a quiet friend; they’re great listeners.
