THE INTROVERT

Mark Strand wrote a beautiful poem titled 'Keeping Things Whole,' where he depicts the nature, as some would assume, of an introverted person. It  reads as follows:

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

Anyone who reads poetry can derive their own meaning or way of interpreting the written piece. It had been a normal morning for me when I stumbled across Strand. I didn't really have anything in particular that I had planned for the day and on those days I'm usually down on myself. Surely there is always something to be done. Someone to talk to. Somewhere to go. After reading this however, I became immediately okay with desiring to do nothing more than read a good book instead of being in the company of others. Often times when people reach out to you and you haven't really been out of the house, except for work and perhaps a grocery store run, you feel as though you have to go out. Society sometimes plays a part in introverts becoming self conscious because of the negative implications that accompany having that title. I've always been referred to as having an introverted personality and the negative connotations are usually followed up with the statement, "But it's okay, that's just you." How many times have you heard that one? When people would ask me why it is that I'm so quiet, my response is usually straight forward, that's just the way I am. I want to yell,  "I'm here, I'm just playing my part." Everyone doesn't need to be the one speaking all of the time and quit honestly, my modest tones have birthed communication in other ways. Those who are close to me understand that it is easier, at times, for me to express myself via text versus orally. I don't know why, that's just me.
So the next time you feel the need to alter yourself because you've been labeled as being too quiet simply treat it as if someone had said your hair is too brown. It's apart of who you are so embrace it.  

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