I\u2019ve never been a super social, outgoing person. On the inside I really wish I could be, but that just isn\u2019t me. Walking into a room full of people excites some people; not me. It makes my anxiety go haywire. I want to find the nearest person I know for that sense of security. Strangers scare me. I am horrible at introductions. They always feel awkward. I hate small talk. It feels so impersonal and limits the conversation so much. There\u2019s only so long you can talk about the weather, and when you ask someone how they are doing or how they\u2019re week is going, quite often you just get a simple, \u201cOkay\u201d or \u201cPretty good\u201d. That doesn\u2019t exactly lead to a long conversation. So new people scare me because I simply don\u2019t know what to talk about. I want to skip over the awkward introductions and small talk and sit down and have a real conversation, with some substance to it. I want to know how your day\u00a0really<\/em>\u00a0went; I want to know your dreams, your struggles, your passions. Then I can talk to you forever. It\u2019s hard to get to that place, though, because usually you must get through the beginning stages first.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to explain to people that you like being around them, but you don\u2019t always want to talk. Sometimes you just want to be with them, listen to them, and watch their reactions to things. Sometimes talking just isn\u2019t easy, or there simply isn\u2019t anything you want to say. I also find myself inside my head a lot. I am perfectly content being off in my own little world thinking about whatever, but to everyone else I look quiet and lonely. I am honestly fine, though. No, there\u2019s nothing wrong. This is just me. I don\u2019t constantly need to be talking and interacting with other people. Although I enjoy it to an extent, it\u2019s draining for me. Some days are harder than others, too. Some days I may be much more talkative than other days. Why? I am not quite sure. There are just days I would rather be left alone. I might not mind being around you, just don\u2019t expect me to do a lot of talking.<\/p>\n Phone calls terrify me. Please text or e-mail me. Don\u2019t ask me why, I just hate talking on the phone. Please don\u2019t show up at my house unannounced, either. I need to mentally prepare for people to come over and even then, I get anxious before people do come over. I just want everything to be perfect and I want to say the right things and I get nervous about it. Once people arrive and the evening starts, I\u2019m good. Leading up to it, though, not so much.<\/p>\n The bright side of being an introvert, I\u2019d much rather listen to you talk than talk myself. I want to learn about you. I get along well with extroverts because they like to talk, and I don\u2019t. I do talk sometimes, though, so don\u2019t talk nonstop for like an hour without taking a breath, either! Just know I will listen, really listen, and I do care.<\/p>\n Ask me questions. You may not always get long answers, but sometimes you might. I am not likely to offer information. I don\u2019t want to bother you with my junk. If you ask, however, I assume you are okay listening to me.<\/p>\n I love words. I love writing. I love song lyrics. These are expressions most dear to me. It\u2019s an outlet for so many introverts who cannot verbalize what they are going through any other way. Words are beautiful. Music is beautiful. It\u2019s how I express myself. It\u2019s where I feel most at home. If you ask me to speak in front of people, I will begrudgingly do it and do my best, though I\u2019m no professional speaker. Ask me to write something, however, I will put my heart and soul on a page for all to read. It\u2019s easier to write something and have people read it when you aren\u2019t around then to say it to their faces. And there\u2019s more time to consider what you want to say. Face-to-face interactions are intimidating because you don\u2019t have time to think as much as you do with writing something. I overthink everything, words don\u2019t always come out right and that makes me more nervous. Writing lets you organize your thoughts and say what you really want to say.<\/p>\n I love being in nature. The peacefulness and calm that comes from being in nature never ceases to amaze and recharge me. It\u2019s when I feel close to God and feel the rest of the world\u2019s problems fade away. My favorite days are ones spent in nature with my husband and two children.<\/p>\n I guess I\u2019m writing this hoping to give someone else who feels the same way comfort in knowing they aren\u2019t the only one. That it\u2019s okay to feel this way. There\u2019s nothing wrong with being a not-so-social butterfly. We all express ourselves differently, whether it be through talking, writing, singing, drawing, painting, etc. Do what you\u2019re passionate about. Express yourself. Be yourself. Don\u2019t let anyone tell you that being different or being uncomfortable in certain social situations makes you less than or broken. You are made in God\u2019s image. He made you this way for a reason. You need only to embrace yourself and your uniqueness and express that in a positive way. You\u2019ll soon realize you will have a huge impact on those around you.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t give up on yourself. Just be you!<\/strong><\/p>\n Best wishes,<\/p>\n Amy Ruble \t\t<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
Freelance Blogger<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Unknown's](\"https:\/\/0.gravatar.com\/avatar\/010375b7c8f7cddb19dccfd07a2aa5efb5ca0619501e87852c0d3c29172602bb?s=90&d=identicon&r=G\")
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