embracing who you are

Last year, I had a really hard time dealing with life because I was an introvert surrounded by extroverts, and I felt like I didn't fit in anywhere. It left me feeling confused and really upset at times, and sometimes it bothered me to the point where I couldn't even enjoy the things I was doing. I never really dealt with wanting to be like everyone else in the past, so it was a really confusing thing for me to struggle with.

2014 is a whole different story, a better story.

I'm starting to accept that I am an introvert, but more importantly, I actually like being an introvert. I like being by myself, and acknowledging that doesn't make me a loser or loner. It just means that I enjoy the time I spend by myself because I get to pick the activity, music, food, and environment. I don't have to worry about pleasing everyone else around me, because I really hate doing that actually.

It doesn't mean I never go out either; I've actually been going out quite a lot these past few weeks, but I'm glad I don't have any social plans for March. I need time to myself to refresh and wind down from everything that's been happening. I do enjoy being around people, but too much social interaction can easily overwhelm me.

That's just who I am, and I like that. I struggled a lot in the past with accepting myself, but with each passing year, I'm learning to love and accept more and more which is something that I notice a lot of people still deal with, and it often leaves them feeling unhappy and unsatisfied with themselves. Learning to love and accept myself is not something I want to struggle with when I'm 40.

It's not that I hate extroverts. In fact, I love people who they are extroverts. I love the energy that they give off, how outgoing and engaging (and quite frankly just lovely people) they are with everyone they talk to, and I admire them a lot. I mean, not all extroverts are like that, but there are some that they are and their personality just really stands out wonderfully.

The point I'm trying to make is to embrace who you are because we're all unique and in our own way and that's pretty amazing.

So love who you are, because some out there thinks it's wonderful, and that someone should be you.

“Isn’t it refreshing to know that what comes perfectly natural for you is your greatest strength? Your power is in your nature. You may not think it’s a big deal that you can spend hours immersed in something that interests you—alone—but the extrovert next door has no idea how you do it.” - Laurie Helgoe