Being a wallflower isn't always easy in a world that only seems to cater to extroverted people. Despite that, I've decided to love and appreciate my more quiet demeanour. In this blog post, I'm going to share with you some of the perks of being a wallflower.
In a society that seems to only cater to those who are outgoing and extroverted, it’s hard not to feel insecure about being a reserved person. In a world that is often so loud, it is hard to find a space where your quiet voice can be heard. We are often cast aside, interrupted, misunderstood and ultimately forgotten.
Despite society being hell-bent on making me feel bad about my quiet and reserved demeanour, I’ve found gratitude instead. So I’ve decided to share that with you today, some perks of being a wallflower.
My ability to listen
The first and most obvious perk is being able to listen to people. Being the more reserved one in a conversation, I naturally give people the platform to speak and be heard. At times I wish I was the one being heard but I realize that being an active listener is not a gift granted to everyone.
I believe a day will come where someone will have something very important to say and will need an active ear to receive it. And there I’ll be ready to listen.
My ability to understand
When you get to sit back and observe, you’re able to learn a lot from the world around you. I think this is what has allowed me to understand people better. Since I'm able to understand, I'm also able to accept people more easily as well. There is nothing like being truly understood by someone, but we often forget the joy that is being the understand-ee.
My empathy
Being too empathetic is always a con but I think the world can always benefit from a bit of empathy. My ability to share and understand the feelings of others is not something that comes naturally to everyone. It's been helpful in a number of situations like when a friend needs a shoulder to cry on or when tragedy strikes. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of other horrible shit that's happened over the past year, I've been more grateful than ever for my empathy.
My independence
I’m used to spending time alone but being alone doesn’t bother me and I often find a lot of comfort in my own solitude. Coupled with the fact that I’m an only child, I know how to make my own fun. Small things like going to get coffee, heading to the mall, going to the movies and even eating at a restaurant, are all activities I have no problem doing by myself. It is so incredible to share life and experiences with other people, but we often forget how amazing life can be on your own. I’m grateful that independence comes naturally to me.
Being able to experience life from a different perspective
On the surface, experiencing life in the background sounds like a chore. Diving deeper, I realized it's actually quite nice. You miss things when you are consistently the centre of attention. You might miss the details of life. Watching people laugh at a funny joke, a new couple sharing a cute glance, the way the rain looks on the window, how blue the sky is. Being able to experience life from this perspective is not something everyone can naturally do. The quietness is actually quite beautiful.
There are cons to everything, that's a given. Recently, however, I've decided to focus my attention on the pros instead. I may not be the most outgoing or the loudest, but that's okay! I wasn't meant to be. I am a wallflower for a reason and I've decided that instead of trying to change that about myself, I'm going to enjoy it.
Are you a wallflower too? What do you love the most about it? Let me know in the comments!
Love,
-Mickaela
Comentários