Taking risks and speaking up have never been my strong suits. I am typically fairly awkward and timid when it comes to taking on new adventures and meeting new people. My best friend, on the other hand, is an outspoken and friendly extrovert. She never fails at striking up conversations with pretty much anyone and everyone. She speaks her mind and takes on every new and unfamiliar moment in life with confidence and certainty. Meanwhile, I am over here, at her side, struggling with the average small talk. In any new situation that is presented to us, she says “why not?” and I say “what if?”. Although our personalities are pretty opposite, it somehow has always worked. We balance each other out and make for a pretty ideal duo.

With a friendship like ours, there are some things that are just always certain.

Here are some situations that a shy person experiences when their best friend is an outgoing extrovert…

1. When you go out places with them, they’re bound to run into people they know and you awkwardly stand behind them while they talk for what feels like four hours.

Don't mind me just lurking in the back over here.

2. When it comes to a love life, theirs is entertaining and exciting...and you do the best you can to offer them some sort of advice.

"I mean, I at least think this what you should do."

3. There are a handful of people that you are now friends with because of them.

Extrovert best friends good icebreakers when it comes to meeting new people, thank goodness.

4. You find yourself shushing them during class or in other quiet areas when they keep trying to talk to you.

"Inside voice" is a foreign term to them.

5. When you make plans to go out somewhere, they’ll usually bring along someone you’ve never met before, but somehow they've become extremely acquainted with in the past couple weeks.

Just another one of their millions of friends.

6.The plans they come up with are usually pretty adventurous.

Do I want to go rollerblading downtown, followed by a bike ride to the zoo? Uh, sure. Why not?

7. They’re always there to push you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to take chances on opportunities you’d usually be too nervous to take.

...And I couldn't be more grateful for it.