The Quiet Hustle

Living as an introvert has its challenges. Mostly due to people who don’t understand. We live in a society where people are expected to be outgoing and super friendly. We are expected to have a million friends, and it’s seen as a failure if you only have one or two, or none at all. People may even ask if you are depressed. Some may concoct the idea that, “You’re stuck up and think you’re better than everyone.” Not at all the case but whatever, I won’t argue. That last bit I actually got from siblings, by the way. Yup, family may even be the ones saying those things.

Coming from a large family, including a twin sister, privacy was a rare treat. Always had someone up my ass every time I turned around. So, I spent most of my time alone in my room. For some reason that rubbed my siblings the wrong way. I remember on time as I walked up the stairs to my room, my older brother said to me, “See you tomorrow.” That same sibling also said behind my back, “She thinks she’s better than us.” Um, no. I don’t think that at all. I just liked to recharge after school and forget about the nonsense and enjoy peace and quiet.

As an adult, it’s the same. I come home from work and go straight to my room. Again, resting and recharging. When you are an introvert, being around people all day every day is exhausting. Especially if they are drama filled and have a lot of negativity in them. Those kinds of people drain my energy even faster. Sometimes I feel very tired and even a little lightheaded after conversing with them and I don’t even have to say anything.

My ex-boyfriend’s mother is a great example of that. Very judgmental and resentful. Had anger problems as well, the type that’s always ready to fight. It was like I couldn’t breathe around her because she would take anything you say out of context. And even when she was being nice, she was over at my house one time, and she was talking to me. Don’t remember what it was about. And while she was talking, I felt my energy depleting. And fast. I was so tired after she left.

Also, when I was still dating her son, he had an issue with me being an introvert. He would get irritated by it, and I told him, this is my personality. I’m not a social butterfly and never will be. You should have seen the way he looked at me; he was so angry. I don’t remember what he said to me afterwards. But I remember feeling so badly about it that I posted that story on a Facebook group for introverts. Most of the responses I got were mainly people telling me that I am who I am and, he probably shouldn’t be dating me. I agree. Thankfully we are no longer together.

One more thing, if you are an introvert, be prepared to have people say stupid shit to you. Some of them may even take it personally because you prefer to keep to yourself. People will say things like, “Why don’t you like me” or “Are you okay?” And mostly, and I think we all get this one, “You should talk more.” Um, how about you talk less? I am way to polite to say that. But I will think it.