Okay, so it's totally a trend right now, especially on blogs and such, to be like, "I'm this way and that's okay! So stop hatin'!" (Eventually hopefully people get the picture and we won't have to keep doing this for every characteristic under the sun.) Well, I'm going to be super original and do the exact same thing for a trait that I don't think has been widely addressed yet: shyness.
A big thing that people have been nobly trying to raise awareness of lately is introversion. I am an introvert, so I appreciate the hoopla. Maybe the world will finally understand me and my kind!
But many of the articles and things that talk about introversion always make this point: being introverted does not mean being shy. As if shyness is a bad thing and introverted people should be offended when people accuse them of it.
Well, I'm shy, okay? I'm both introverted and shy. Is this an inherent flaw in my personality? Pshhh.
A lot of people would be slightly to severely shocked if I told them this. Yes, I have lots of friends. I have fun. I can certainly be loud. I've taught myself (sort of) to talk to strangers. See how I can't be put in a box? Is anyone else noticing that boxes are stupid? (I also addressed this about two years ago in Stereotypes Are Bad.)
The world has taught me that it's bad to be shy. That I have to come out of my shell right away. Let me tell you: coming out of my shell organically is wonderful. Coming out prematurely is painful. It can yield wonderful results, maybe, but it's really, really hard and unnatural. But if I don't rush it, I'm lonely. I'm labeled "the quiet one." So I have to come out.
Anyway, what's wrong with being shy? What's wrong with taking my time to warm up to people (which is really all shyness is--for me anyway). Nothing. Nothing is wrong with that.
I guess I thought I had more of an argument to make, but that's all I have. Shyness is okay. Please be okay with it. That's my point. The end.
God bless.
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