Those who don’t know me well often get the wrong first impression. I’ve been called quiet, shy, unapproachable, even lazy or weird. For years, I secretly wondered: Is there something wrong with me?

I wasn’t like the people who could effortlessly spark conversation, dive into small talk, or light up a room with laughter. I struggled with social situations. I didn’t feel comfortable chiming in with my own good news if someone else had just shared theirs. And I often found myself scanning for the nearest exit at crowded gatherings.

This might sound like low self-esteem – and yes, life experience plays a part, but I’ve learned it’s more than that. It’s wiring. Carl Jung explored these traits, and his work helped me understand that personality isn’t one-size-fits-all.

At the age of 54, I finally discovered that it wasn’t a question of being broken. I came to understand more deeply the introvert personality. And that simple truth changed everything.

Introverts live in their heads. We thrive in solitude, recharge through quiet, and process deeply. We may enjoy social time but in small doses, in small groups, in soft lighting. Loud rooms and too much stimulation don’t energize us; they drain us.

In contrast, extroverts light up in social settings. They gain energy from being out in the world, in the company of others. My son is one of them! He is always ready to say yes to a late-night coffee or group hangout. It used to puzzle me until I realized we’re just different, not opposites at all! We are just running on different batteries – AA vs AAA!

I’ve worked in busy offices where the noise and constant buzz of energy overwhelmed me. When things got loud, I got quieter and retreated. I lowered my head and focused on the task. My body would tense up and some of my colleagues thought I was being moody and unfriendly. My mind just automatically retreats. It’s not disinterest. It’s simply self-preservation. And yes, sometimes I need to leave the room just to breathe.

One book changed the game for me: The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D. It validated everything I felt. It told me that I wasn’t weird but simply wired differently. And that it’s okay.

Introverts don’t need to “fix” themselves to fit in. We just need balance. We need enough solitude to recharge, and enough connection to feel part of the world. We don’t have to live as hermits, but we do have to honour our need for calm and space.

Some of the most powerful figures in fiction – Atticus Finch, Radar from MASH* changed lives not with volume, but with presence. Quiet power is still power.

Despite my introversion, I’ve been a professional cheerleader, a singer, and a speaker. Performance anxiety followed me everywhere, but so did the need to express myself. There’s a grey space where introverts and extroverts meet – and maybe that’s the sweet spot.

This blog is my way of stepping into that space again. Sharing my truth. Honouring my wiring. And reminding other introverts: You’re not broken. You’re beautifully built – just a little more quietly.