What does it mean to be an introvert? Being an introvert doesn’t mean that you don’t talk to people; I talk to plenty of people. What it means is that one does not feel the need to be the person who leads every conversation. Even as I say that, I acknowledge that there are many different levels of introversion, and not everyone is the same. In any case, being an introvert is nothing to be ashamed of.

I was one of those kids who spent a good amount of their childhood hiding behind their mom, and I avoided talking to non-family members as much as I could. As I got older, I had no problem making friends, but I was never seen as a “social butterfly.” Many of my friends tried to hang out with each other every weekend. I loved my friends and I loved hanging out with them from time to time, but I was perfectly fine staying at home by myself on the weekend. It can be hard for others to understand this. I never tried to avoid my friends; I was just simply content being by myself.

Oftentimes, when I am in a big group, I tend to focus my energy on listening to everyone else. It’s not that I am scared to speak up, because I do throw in my two cents from time to time. The thing is that I like to really listen to what others are saying. I like to analyze the thoughts of others and give them the attention they are calling for. I also don’t like to say things without knowing that they will truly add something to the conversation. I’ve always been a strong proponent of the idea of quality over quantity. If I am in a smaller group with my closest friends, then I usually have no problem being an active participant in conversation. Either way, no matter the size of the group, I shouldn’t have to feel bad about being the way I am, even if that means I am a little quiet at times.

There have been many times when I have thought that being shy is a bad thing. My whole life I have been asked the question “How come you never talk?” The simple answer to this is, has been, and always will be that there are times when I just don’t feel like it. Having an introverted personality is nothing to be ashamed of; it is completely alright to be content within yourself. It is also completely alright to have an extroverted personality. We need the extroverts to make up for our silent moments of analysis. It is good to be an introvert, and it is good to be an extrovert. So, no matter where you fall on the personality spectrum, it is OK to be who you are. Enjoy this life, and keep doing you.