Introverts get a bad rap. Introverts are naturally more on the quiet side, and because of this, most people believe they are just shy, unfriendly or lonely. Being an introvert myself, I’ve found that this is absolutely not the case. While I may be a little bit more quiet and enjoy some alone time, I have always worked incredibly hard to be welcoming, friendly and let others know I will always be there for them if they need. I used to be insecure about being classified as an introvert. For the longest time, I thought there was nothing worse than having people perceive me as an introvert. However, as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that being an introvert has actually helped me a lot. Here are a few things that make me proud to be an introvert:

I Think Things Through

One of my best, yet most annoying, qualities is the fact that I don’t always speak my mind right away. It’s not because I don’t have an opinion or an amazing suggestion to the problem, rather it is because I am taking the time to consider all possible outcomes. Of course, how long I take to think things through varies depending on the situation, but usually my decision is one I can be proud of. 

Quality Over Quantity

When it comes to making friends, I usually seek the quality of a friend rather than the quantity of friends I have. I haven’t always thought this way though. I wasn’t popular when I was in high school, but I always thought I needed to have huge groups of friends in order to be somebody. I always look back and laugh at now naive I was. A large majority of the people I was friends with in high school were never really my friends. Most of them just used me for various reasons, and it wasn’t until I got to college until I started realizing who my true friends are. There aren’t many, but I’m OK with that. I have those few close friends, my family and my cat. What else does a girl need?

Good Listener

Whenever someone comes to me with a problem, I always tell them, “Hey, I may not know what to say after you tell me what is going on, but I want you to know I’m listening and will be here for you.” I think it’s special to just know someone is listening to you, because sometimes when I’m feeling down I just want someone to listen rather than try and feed me random advice. So if you ever need someone to listen to you, reach out to me. I will listen, because what you’re going through matters.

So, yes. I can be quiet, under spoken and sometimes shy. But I really value taking the time to think things through and making sure I really understand a situation before I say anything. I want to consider all pros and cons before making any decision. Not only that, but I feel like it makes me that much more of a laid back person. So, if you’re an introvert you’ve got a lot to be proud of. Don’t ever feel bad for being too quiet. Instead, OWN the fact that you’re an introvert. After all, it’s not ALL that bad.