A good friend of mine wrote an article about introverts (read it here), in which she addressed misconceptions as well as some qualities that aren't as loudly expressed on a daily basis. I'd like to talk a little about being introverted, because it has recently become a part of my persona that came at a random time and with lots of questions, but I've slowly begun to realize its impact, and I'd like to share that with you.
So let me start off by saying that I believe there are two types of introverts. I've seen this as a post on tumblr numerous times, and though it is just a post on tumblr, I truly have seen this perspective come to light in the last couple of months.
Type 1:They like to be alone. They like being quiet and quiet environment. They prefer staying in because there is too much stimulation outside. They get tired very quickly when they are exposed to the outdoor too long. They can be in their room as long as possible without getting bored. There's always something going on their mind or their desk.
Type 2: They like to be alone. They are not necessarily quiet. They get easily bored. They like to go out and explore - on their own. They like traveling and trying out new things but often wear headphones so that they can keep the experiences to themselves without interacting other people. They don't mind stimulation from the world - as long as they have enough privacy to digest it by themselves.
Now most people who know me would be quick to say that I am not an introvert; I'm very social, tend to spend a lot of my time with other people, and can stay in my room all day and not get bored (thank you world of warcraft). However, though I've been led all of my life to be the exact opposite of a traditional introvert - even though there isn't really a classic introvert and all of us are vastly different - I've done heaps of soul-searching and found that I do identify with the latter type of introvert in this situation. I do get easily bored, which is one of the reasons why I try new things all the time. Just a couple weeks ago, I tried kayaking for the first time because why the hell not? I've never really been the outdoorsy kinda gal, but there I was, floating on a kayak on a Sunday morning without a soul on the water.
It is mostly a known fact that I'm listening to music in one way or another at all times - which explains why I need new headphones always - and it happens when I'm at the grocery store, gym, book store, or any other place where I have the option to interact with people around me, but I choose not to.
I have no problem starting a conversation with a stranger in a CVS, because you never really know who you're going to meet. If we #tbt to that article I wrote about my delayed flight on my way home to Dallas, I was perfectly content on listening to John Mayer and reading my book for five hours. Yet, I was pulled into a conversation with a couple about my hometown, and I took one headphone out to interact, though I was still listening to music.
Experiences are a part of life that none of us get to take back. They happen in their own way in our minds and are stuck with us forever, even if we forget them later on. In the words of Osho:
"Experience life in all possible ways – good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light, summer-winter. Experience all the dualities. Don’t be afraid of experience, because the more experience you have, the more mature you become."
Having these experiences for myself further help me identify who it is that I am - which is the big existential question amiright? - and no one else can help me in that lifelong journey but myself. Though summer is hot and the bloom is mostly a barren wasteland compared to the school year, I've found myself doing more things alone for the experiences, and letting myself be in those moments has helped me grow in more ways than one.
Do I say that everyone should adopt the introverted trait of your personality and that we all begin to lessen the amount of social interaction? Yes and no. Social interaction is good for us as human beings, but sometimes all that stimulation is kind of hard to digest. For some, we can absorb more experiences in a non-introverted manner, and if that works for some people, then keep at it. But for those who maybe feel that they are forced to be more social than they're comfortable with, now is the chance to rely define your limits and figure out how you want to experience the world.
As mentioned in Caroline's article, extroverted personality traits are not the end-all-be-all sign of healthier mentality, as we are all different. I encourage you, however, to look into your values and possibly begin to set aside time for you to be alone with your thoughts, and, though it can be scary at first, this is one of the first ways to learn more about and be by yourself.
