Introversion is not necessarily the characteristic everyone would kill to have. I have gotten lower grades for being “too quiet” in classes. I’ve been told that I would get a B+ because I didn’t speak in EVERY single class. I have been left out because I wasn’t the fun, outgoing person that my friends were, because I didn’t always being surrounded by a lot of people. And so I let being introverted define me. I let myself believe that I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t good enough to do well in school and I wasn’t good enough to become friends with the outgoing, fun, people.

But after 19 years of being introverted, although there are days when I wish I could be a tad bit more outgoing or not get so tired being around a lot of people, although I hate when people label me as the introvert, I do NOT apologize for being introverted.

You see, introversion doesn’t mean sensitive, inability to speak, quiet, or unintelligent. Being introverted doesn’t mean you only like to spend time alone. It doesn’t mean you don’t like people or don’t like showing love.

According to Susan Cain, “Introverts have a preference for a quiet, more minimally stimulating environment. Introverts tend to enjoy quiet concentration, listen more than they talk, and think before they speak, and have a more circumspect and cautious approach to risk, Introverts think more, are less reckless and focus on what really matters—relationships and meaningful work.”

Being introverted has actually done so much good in my life, despite how I defined it and let it define me.

• Being introverted has brought me life long friendships. Friends who have made the effort to get to know me past the painfully awkward encounters and my resting bitch face.
  
• Being introverted has made me appreciate words, words that so clearly verbalized what I couldn’t say.
  
• Being introverted has given me the ability to observe and listen. No I’m not world’s best listener, but I am always willing to listen. Go ahead and talk all you need, because really. It doesn’t bother me.
  
• Being introverted taught me how to empathize.
  
  
• Being introverted challenged my capacity to love people by showing me that I can still love people and spend time with them even though being around them can be too much sometimes.
  
  
• Being introverted has taught me to appreciate people. A lot of people tend to overlook the fact that I still do need people and I still do enjoy company. So for those who spend time with me despite your busy schedules, I appreciate you.

Extroverts definitely have an amazing, charismatic, characteristics as well. They are also able to love, empathize, listen, and appreciate. These characteristics are just carried out differently for different people.