In this society, we have extroverted people and we have introverted people. Sometimes a person may have qualities of both. Here is a list of five things that introverts such as myself enjoy.

1. Thoroughness

Most introverts are very observant. They enjoy the hidden wonders of life that are often overlooked. That being said, many introverts like to know what is coming. Planning and intricate thought before acting is more preferable than acting spontaneously. Simple things such as reading every word in an instruction manual or maybe taking extra time to get ready make introverts feel more comfortable before doing something.

2. Thought

Being left alone with just your thoughts can be bad, but it can also be good. Mind-stimulating activity is generally what introverts enjoy the most. That doesn’t mean that we all want to play chess for hours on end, but just being able to enjoy what we can keep our focus on. Something that is commonly said to introverts is “you’re so quiet” or that they “zoned out” for a few minutes. It’s not necessarily because we don’t want to talk to someone, but rather we are thinking about what is happening around us.

3. Socialization

Yes, introverts can like being social. Many myths about introverted people might say otherwise, but it is true. It is sometimes hard to explain, but an excellent article by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West displayed some illustrations of what goes on in the mind of an introvert. One of the illustrations shows how as time goes on at a party, an introvert loses energy as an extrovert might be gaining energy. In the end, anyone can enjoy some socialization.

4. Appreciation

We love to appreciate things. Everyone appreciates something, but the subconscious strategy for doing so is different between some people. An extrovert, for example, may appreciate something for the quantity while an introvert may appreciate the same thing for its quality.

5. Down time

As stated previously, socialization can drain an introvert faster than an extrovert. It seems unproductive to some, but down time seems very productive to an introvert. Because of this, we look forward to our down time. Netflix marathons at home and a nice, long shower after a day of constant socialization is like getting a lollipop after getting a vaccination at the doctor.

It is the little things that we value and look forward to, which is why I am proud to be an introvert.