The Introvert

Greetings everyone. This is my first blog, so kindly forgive me if I make errors. I've always been curious about blogging, and finally today I decided to start. Probably nobody will read this, or even notice that  I posted this, but hey, I'm sitting at home jobless, my degree certificate pending, playing facebook games, so this is a much better use of my time. :)

 I've always been introverted, in my own little world, despite whatever scenario I've been in. Every time I went to my native place (which is a lush estate area in kerala), I would wander on my own, even if it was pitch black, talking to myself , lost in some other dimension. I was never afraid of the dark, in fact I found it rather comforting. When I was in school, my best friend was heavily extroverted, and had way too many friends. But I would talk less, and my mother kept asking me: "Why cant u be friends with everyone, and be smart like everyone else?" :\

  

Why would I want to be friends with everyone? It means I have to talk more. Basically small talk, which I essentially hate. Some people interpret my lack of mingling as arrogance. =|

So eventually I started "pretending" to be extroverted, talking to everyone, and many people liked me (many hated me too lol). However I never felt good. Making small talk, asking people about what they did and other petty stuff din't really help me in anything. I felt exhausted. So everyday I would lock myself in my room for hours to think and relieve my brain of the stress endured in talking to others. This annoyed my family (leave it to your mom to think the worst when u lock urself in a room :\) and caused more fights.

 So let me stop talking about myself and just emphasize on what introverts actually are like. The worst part of being an introvert is that people mistake introverts as being shy and incapable of interaction. This is not true. The introvert doesn't lack the ability, but the interest. The introvert has a beautiful imagination which will keep him so entertained, that he merely doesn't have the need to interact. It is not that he hates you. He really likes you, but at a distance. :P He doesn't need help or "influence" to get through life. He may not like parties. Or get-togethers or concerts. (Notice the word "may"). Sometimes introverts pretend to be extroverted, just so that people don't get offended. But he is really struggling to talk. Introverts love direct one on one conversations. He may hate phone calls, and might not even pick up the receiver. Again, this is not because he hates you, but because he doesn't prefer that  mode of conversation.

   The introvert has a magnificent mind, which is his strength. He can go on thinking, reading, doing stuff, without the slightest need of help. He is quite smart in the sense that he can analyze well and pay attention to detail. This is in contrast to the extrovert who feels the need to take many opinions, to get the courage to move on. Introverts are independent and original. Extroverts need some pushing. The extrovert gets lonely. The introvert is hardly ever lonely. 

   Don't take this blog as something against extroverts. The people I love the most are extroverts. The ONLY problem that I face with extroverts is that they expect you to be like them.You are belittled if you aren't. Sadly many introverts end up pretending to be like extroverts, because they are taught right from childhood that extroverts are smarter and liked more. I hope someday the world will just accept introverts as they are, and see the beauty in our difference.

      Introverts like me need recharging. And this is done by being alone. "Alone" is not a negative word, "lonely" is. There is a huge difference. Without time to think, we lose our individuality. Many great personalities were introverts. Introverts are better at judging personalities, and situations. They do interact well with people who they are close to. They are very trustworthy, and genuine.They can be very powerful, though being silent at the same time.Sitting alone at home is probably the happiest thing for an introvert. Or perhaps travelling alone. Or going for a walk alone, eating alone in a restaurant. A postponed social gathering makes him jump in joy :D. If you find these things weird, you are an extrovert. 

    

        Don't ever mistake a shy person with an introvert. A shy person needs help, an introvert needs to be left as he is. The  introvert may seem as a party pooper, you will be amazed if you have a direct conversation with him. If necessary the introvert can become the life of the party, but he will need a long time by himself to recharge. Many good qualities of introverts aren't shown to the world because introverts judge themselves harshly for not being able to fit in, and hence never express their true self.

          So in a world where "contacts" and "influence" is given more importance than individuality and talent, life is quite difficult for an introvert. Being judged as "shy", "under confident", "incapable". "not smart", "negative" since childhood is depressing. If you are reading this, I request you to accept all kinds of personalities and correct people when they make such remarks. I don't need to come out of any "shell" simply because there isn't one. I'm happy in my own palace. Solitude is always bliss. The wonderful feeling I get by being alone can never be compensated by the innumerable of contacts I'm expected to keep. 

I end this post with this lovely picture I found on the internet. :)