I am an introvert. More accurately, I am an introspective introvert. What exactly does that mean? Well, it means I am an inner-directed person who spends a lot of time considering and evaluating my own makeup as an individual. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being an introvert. The world needs such persons. Introverts tend to be creative people: writers like myself, artists, musicians, and designers. Of course, some creative people also like the company of like-minded people, as I do. But one thing I can never be is an extrovert: it simply goes against my nature.

At one time in my life, some well-meaning people thought they were doing me a favor by turning me into an extrovert. "Hey, you need to learn to spend more time with everyone in your class!" "Try to get along with everyone in class!" "What real friends? Just get along already!" "WHY are you reading a book? Get off your ass and spend some time with others!" The most ironic thing about these statements is that they came from people who were introverts themselves. I suppose it is possible they were just projecting. But the truth is, these same people would go to meetings, social activities, and what not, bear it as best they can, but were they happier pretending to be extroverts? Hell no. In fact, the reason for their misery was precisely because of the constant yelling at me. Now, if you pretend to be something you are not, you are cheating yourself. You won't be needing others to call you a fraud. Not by a long shot. Being true to yourself gets you more respect than compromising yourself. But I'm not one who is preoccupied with social validation, simply because it has no worth to me. My introvertive nature is what creates my identity as an individual. If I am somehow forced into a situation where there is a huge crowd of people my usual response is a grunt. No, I do not bite at all. I rarely bark but I have been known to howl at the full moon. Crowds are not my comfort level at all. I can get much more accomplished, and I usually do, if I am alone. As a writer, it is necessary for me to have this time or else nothing would be written and no one would be able to enjoy my writing.

Extroverts, on the other hand, are more socially oriented and less concerned with their inner development as a person. Not all extroverts need to be around others constantly but their comfort is in being with others. These others may not always be like-minded, in fact, they may have different points of view on life as well as have different values. Some extroverts may even try to seek their identity as a person through others who have such differing views and values. Acquiring an identity through another person, however, may cause an internal conflict in an individual, particularly if that person already has well grounded values but somehow becomes influenced through a manipulative person. I do not believe that most introverts have such a problem. To use a real life example, if I do meet a person whose values and views are opposed to my own, there is very little chance I will be manipulated by that person. I consider myself secure and comfortable in myself. I may not spend a whole lot of time with that particular person, but that is only because I am an introvert. The truth is, I appreciate learning about different values and ideologies, and that is why I am an avid reader. In fact, I used to read fifty plus books a year, mainly non-fiction though at one point in my life I read quite a bit of classic French literature like Zola, Colette, de Maupassant, and Sand. I am not a party animal by any means but I have a few favorite Internet discussion boards I like to visit on a regular basis.

I do not believe it is possible for one to change their nature; it's just the way humans are designed, to be individuals. The world would be a boring place if everyone was an introvert, or an extrovert. Personally, I think both are necessary for a functioning society. Regardless if one is an extrovert or introvert, everyone needs some time to themselves. But when it comes to wild parties, I'll hold off, thanks.