The Tragedy of Social Distancing, The Covid-19 Pandemic And Being An Introvert

2020 is a year that will make or break a lot of people. 👀 I see a lot sadness, frustration, depression, etc. being expressed online in the face of so much volatility & adversity. 😰 …But I also see a lot of very inspiring stories and things that give me encouragement! 🧐

Being an introvert, I was excited at the initial thought of a lockdown because I was exhausted from a lot of travel and socializing over the holiday months. I know I work best when I’m at home and have the stability and routine and alone time I need to thrive. 💁‍♂️ That excitement quickly turned to shame when I thought about the extroverts of the world and how a lockdown would have the opposite influence on their lives. 🙇‍♂️

I think it’s important for me to explain I was spectacularly wrong from the start. 😔 The first week or so was, admittedly, okay. Then I sank like a brick. 🧱 I let the weight of fear & uncertainty hold me back from my potential. I didn’t excel at any of the things I normally do. For the last few months I have indeed been in my shell, but it is not the same safe haven of happiness & productivity that I anticipated. 🐚

😂 And how could it be? How could anything facilitate an escape from the anxiety of this year? Something which has slowly begun to bother me: I increasingly see this notion that introverts are, by default, flourishing + adapting to this situation better than others. I wish.

I think it’s a good idea to acknowledge that even the most ✨reclusive✨ among us are still going through this with us. The most resourceful & self-sustaining individuals are NOT immune to depression. In fact, I suspect a large number of people are masking their pain.

I’m looking at the people who are seemingly thriving, and not assuming that they’re just stronger than I am; they’re in survival mode like the rest of us. 🌎

A lot of people, throughout the spectrum of introverts and extroverts, are adapting to the changes they’ve had to endure this year. I admire those people; the ones who, in spite of all the things we cannot control, chose to rise to the challenge of navigating this labyrinth of 2020! 🙇‍♂️ They are a source of inspiration & hope for me right now.