Hey extroverts, it's us, your introverted friends. Yes, we're still here. You might not see us often, but we're here, still as loyal as before. Although we may not show it often, we really do appreciate you. Without you, we probably would never leave our pajamas or our bed for the entirety of our lives. We do love you; however, we really wish that you would respect us just like our other extroverted friends. Here are some tips on how to care for our friendship a little better.
1. Please always invite us.
Although we may not always want to go out and have a good time, it is always appreciated to get the invite. We get it that you don't want to invite us "boring people" anymore after so many "no's" that you get from us. But I promise one of these times we will say yes. And it sucks to feel unappreciated just because of who we are.
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2. One on one vs. party
We appreciate one-on-one interactions rather than a huge party of people. Small talk makes us insanely anxious, but deep conversation sounds great as an alternative. The one party we would go to is if we knew every single person in the group. And yes, every single person in the group. Not knowing one person in the group can make us not want to go out.
3. The 411 on parties
We love to be invited to parties! And if we go then we will probably have a great time. However, we will definitely need time to recharge afterwards. Just as a heads up, we will also probably opt to stay home and not go out to the party. In my case, you just have to basically force me to go, and I will go and have a good time. But if I end up not going, please don't get offended or think I'm not cool.
4. We have a silly side.
If you have seen our silly side, then you are definitely someone special. We have 1 percent extrovert in us; if you have seen that, then please stick around.
5. Voicemail is the best thing for us.
We always screen our calls and never answer the phone unless we know the reason behind the call. The reason behind this? We need to mentally prepare a conversation before actually having it. Spontaneously answering the phone without knowing the reason behind it is terrifying.
6. Tired has a new meaning.
If we want to leave somewhere, we may say we're tired. Tired in this case means tired of being around people. It does not mean I can barely keep my eyes open.
7. The golden rule for introverts
If we are intending on only hanging out with two friends, please do not invite four or five more. It will ruin our entire day.
8. Mind on repeat.
We will "re-live" a conversation over and over again if we think we have offended you or made you upset. This is extremely tortuous to ourselves, and if we have made you upset, it is 100 percent OK to just come out and tell us. It will help us calm down.
9. Trust
We never open up emotionally to anyone. And if we do, then you're special. Please treasure this as we have trusted you.
10. "Pre-game" also has a new meaning.
You all know what the word pre-game means to the average extrovert. Us introverts want to pre-game at home in our pajamas while watching Netflix while you try and convince us to get up and go out.
11. We can be extroverted too.
It doesn't last long, but it does happen! This is how we actually keep our friends by the way — by showing them that we can be fun just like them!
12. We don't lie.
If we say we want to stay at home, then we really want to stay at home. We are not just saying this to blow you off.
We are people too, don't forget. These tips may help you approach introverts and see them in a different light. Please don't discredit us for who we are; we like to have fun too.
