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Mangaotakuchan — I am an Introvert

Published: 2012-12-02 05:39:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 15941; Favourites: 99; Downloads: 21
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Description I finally gathered enough inspiration to actually draw something. The past few weeks have been a series of failed drawings because I had no idea what to draw.
Then I watched this video on Youtube called "The Power of Introverts". It was based off of a book by Susan Cain called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking.

The video really brought me back to when I was a kid and I felt as if something was wrong with me.
My parents were always concerned about why I chose to stay home by myself rather than hanging out with friends.
Back then, I barely even had any friends.
People were always telling me to get out of my own little world and talk with other people.
They thought I was weird for always spending my time reading.
For a while, my parents even banned me from reading.
One time, I was in a group of people who were chatting and I got bored. I took out my book and started reading. My peers started to talk about how strange I was even though I was sitting right next to them. They thought that I couldn't hear them because I was reading. One boy called me deaf and I hit him. I was sent to the principal's office.

I have a very stubborn streak and a lot of pride, so I got angry at others easily. It was because I felt as if no one understood me. They kept saying there was something wrong with me, but I kept thinking that they were wrong.
I do well enough socializing, but it's pretty stressful. If I'm not careful, I end up neglecting my friends for the sake of solitude and then I realize that I haven't talked to any of them for months.

I eventually started to just ignore the fact that I was different. When people commented on my aloofness, I take pride in my social standing at the bottom of the food chain. I didn't care anymore about constantly trying to make more and more friends so I could attain that enigmatic and vicious concept called "popularity". From what I saw, popularity wasn't all that great anyway. The worst part of it was having to deal with my family. My parents were constantly forcing me into social situations when I would much rather curl up in the back of the library and read. It's pretty terrible when you're parents feel as if you're a failure.
My sister was constantly going out during the weekends with friends, and I was always at home. She avoided me at school because she hated being associated with her "weird" older sister.
My parents always said that they never compared the two of us, but there were many times when I felt painfully aware of how different we were. They never talk about my introversion anymore, but I can tell that they're still concerned about it.

Well, there's nothing I can do about it. I'm an introvert. It's in my nature. I enjoy solitude, reading, writing, and thinking. I may not be the life of the party, but at least I'm not a total airhead like some extroverts. I'm proud to be an introvert.

As a last message to my fellow introverts, take pride too. There's nothing wrong with you. You are an wonderfully complex and beautiful person full of flaws and gifts. Don't think that just because you aren't outgoing or like being alone, you're weird. Through this web of connections, the Internet, I reach out to you. Because some of you just need to be reminded that you are amazing.
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Comments: 29

CleanClear777 [2017-03-15 21:02:04 +0000 UTC]

I'm an ambivert, but right now I'm in my introvert stage; because at this moment I wanna have some time to myself & my family needs to understand that. (I don't mind my friends though)

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Jaquina [2015-07-20 20:43:41 +0000 UTC]

aww, thats really sweet!! Thank you for the outreaching!
I feel sorry for you, because of your parents.... That must be tough.
But keep on being proud!! Thats the right attitude!!

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megcat6038 [2014-12-30 23:14:51 +0000 UTC]

I also have those problems

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Jiyugami [2014-11-25 21:31:42 +0000 UTC]

Your story sounds a bit like mine... my dad thinks the only people who like solitude are "crazies and predators"
It's so stupid when people think something is wrong with me. 

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Jiyugami [2014-11-25 21:30:03 +0000 UTC]

INTROVERT PRIDE!

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LittleBlackSar [2014-07-29 03:54:46 +0000 UTC]

Omg I seriously thought i was the only introvert out there! And i thought no one understood me. But wow! I was seriously blown away by this! Definitely saving to my faves! Bravo BRAVO!!! DDDD

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poetreble2002 [2014-03-31 14:41:31 +0000 UTC]

I thank you for this.

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blueseigi [2013-11-19 21:05:12 +0000 UTC]

I see a lot of myself in this pic and once learning about it,I can honestly say that I'm proud of being an introvert regardless if my family members or other people don't understand it.

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rainbowgirl500 [2013-10-16 02:55:35 +0000 UTC]

Wow...I see myself in this picture.

 

I mean, my parents love my love of reading. My dad really understands me because he is an introvert too. My mom is an extrovert but she was an introvert as a kid.

 

 

I absolutley hate school though. People always think that ther is something wrong with me.  My friend understands me, but no one else does. They think i'm weird and stuck up and shy. Things I often hear are, ''Speak louder, I can't hear you!''

''Get out of your fantasy place''

''You read too much!''

''Why don't you talk?''

''Are you deaf?''

''You are way too quite''

 

 

 

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AmbientDays [2013-07-08 18:31:39 +0000 UTC]

Its for things like this that I'm glad I had my Maths teacher.Around the time when I was unconsciously beginning to feel like this he told my mother to let me be so that I can be who I am, when some of my other teachers said I needed to come out of my shell.Being an introvert hasn't always been a pleasant experience, my habits have made me see myself as a bit selfish and made push away some amazing people who wanted to be my friends and I regret that but I still love the way I am and I like speaking to the people that I've met on the internet that are like me. Anyway, I salute you my fellow introvert ^-^ I'm glad you didn't let such things break you. (-sorry for my bad writing )

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brokengod--veins [2013-04-28 20:49:35 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. Just thank you.

It's pretty weird that I said that first rather than telling you that your artwork speaks for itself. I literally saw myself in your drawing, and you artist's comment was very accurate in terms of being an introvert -- in being me.

I know what it's like to have parents worry about you not having that much friends, but it took me a while to realize just how 'different' I am. Let me put it this way: I'm an introvert in a family of extroverts. The black sheep of the family. Matilda. Everyone else just loves to socialize at home while I prefer to read, write, or just use the internet. Not everyone was conformed with the idea that I wasn't as friendly as they are nor the fact that they're not as creative as I am (no kid. Those were the exact words). At times, I'm called immature in more ways than I can count, and I was just labelled as..weird in school. But it never really meant that I was a loner, no. I just don't find myself comfortable with talking to people most of the time, especially about things I don't care about. The neighbor, my mascara-wearing anorexic of a classmate or her ugly shoes aren't the best topics, are they? And Lil Wayne's new single? Forget it!

I have a very stubborn streak and a lot of pride, so I got angry at others easily. It was because I felt as if no one understood me. They kept saying there was something wrong with me, but I kept thinking that they were wrong.
I do well enough socializing, but it's pretty stressful. If I'm not careful, I end up neglecting my friends for the sake of solitude and then I realize that I haven't talked to any of them for months. This sums me up just perfectly, too!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, as introverts, we're very misunderstood creatures. Not different. No, no, no. Just misunderstood. Because, let's face it: not everyone's mature enough to understand just how hard it is to be treated like this just because we don't act like everyone else. I actually am proud to be an introvert, too. At least I know being by myself isn't going to bore me easily like everyone else.

This made my day, but you don't know just how much. Thank you!

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BHONEYBEE [2013-01-20 19:48:36 +0000 UTC]

You know what....everything you have written is speaking my life ~saluteplz

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to BHONEYBEE [2013-01-26 22:43:40 +0000 UTC]

Thanks. There are actually a lot of people who have had similar experiences. It's kind of surprising, but I feel as if I shouldn't be surprised at all.

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MiraiTheFuture [2013-01-17 11:26:39 +0000 UTC]

I like your picture, I can totally relate to that as I am introverted myself. Also thanks for your little story about your childhood, it reminds me a lot of my own. It's not always easy to be an introvert, but just as you said, there is nothing wrong with us and we should take pride in who we are.

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to MiraiTheFuture [2013-01-26 22:41:52 +0000 UTC]

Yeah. Introverts have their pride too. People always seem to underestimate the power of introverts.

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22Hussars [2012-12-04 09:44:56 +0000 UTC]

Favourited. It is not your talent for drawing nor the drawing itsfel that me do it but the little impact it had on me since it brings me lots of memories, plus the fact that I have to deal with this kind of stuff everyday and I find much joy in the fact there are still people in this world who are not copies or degenerated into the monkeys I write about. Being confronted with this kind of stuff at an early age and still keep your pride is something I deeply admire as I indentify myself with this, and the courage to post it.

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to 22Hussars [2012-12-05 04:09:14 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for the favorite. I know that my drawing isn't the best and I really need to improve, but the thing I really try to do is convey inside my drawings my beliefs and experiences. The fact that my message got across to someone is really gratifying and I'm happy that I've finally drawn something with enough meaning to it to make an impact, no matter how small. So thank you.

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nykol-haebrd [2012-12-02 06:23:37 +0000 UTC]

Nice representation of this topic very well done

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to nykol-haebrd [2012-12-02 06:27:00 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it. It really means a lot when people comment/favorite!

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nykol-haebrd In reply to Mangaotakuchan [2012-12-02 09:53:15 +0000 UTC]

you're very welcome ^_^ it was my pleasure, and I very much relate to this artwork.

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to nykol-haebrd [2012-12-03 00:09:57 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! (again)

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nykol-haebrd In reply to Mangaotakuchan [2012-12-03 05:54:48 +0000 UTC]

no prob ^_^

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to nykol-haebrd [2012-12-03 06:19:06 +0000 UTC]

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Natio-S [2012-12-02 05:45:01 +0000 UTC]

congrats for posting something from the heart that few people dare to do

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to Natio-S [2012-12-02 05:51:59 +0000 UTC]

Your welcome. I'm glad that some people appreciate this. The subject was a little sensitive to me because it brought back a lot of insecurities from when I was a kid. The words on the walls are all things that people would say to me. There were times when I just wanted to scream at the world to leave me alone.

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Natio-S In reply to Mangaotakuchan [2012-12-02 06:06:51 +0000 UTC]

Mhm... it's kinda sad but I think everyone goes through a time where they just feel different in any way to everyone else... and thats mostly when everyone is pointing out one thing or another about them. May it be that they are shy, they are too confident, they don't talk enough, or they talk waaaaaay too much, people somehow always find something to critize everyone about, and its just about learning to be happy with yourself I think
I used to be really shy and the biggest reader, but now I'm the biggest chatterbox ever, but still love reading and solitude sometimes too. I guess its just finding you amongst everything people are telling you that you should be

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to Natio-S [2012-12-02 06:25:12 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, there's always something to criticize because nothing is ever perfect. The people who can only see the flaws are pessimists. The ones who can only see the good things are optimists. Personally, I think that both are bad because neither can see the whole. That's why I like realists. They see both the good and bad in everything.

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Natio-S In reply to Mangaotakuchan [2012-12-02 06:34:37 +0000 UTC]

Now thats an interesting thought... neither pessimists or optimists are good 'cause they can't see the whole... never really thought about it that way before I guess your right though, because they would always be mroe inclined to see the good or bad in everything, more than reality.
I think realists are cool, cause they see everything, but I think I consider myself between being an optimist or a realist, because I like seeing the positive things more than the negative ones, but unfortunatly I can never quite block out negative stuff (or simply ignore it) so I can't be a full optimist... Oh well XD This strange mind of mine just keeps blabbering on, sorry XD

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Mangaotakuchan In reply to Natio-S [2012-12-02 07:12:36 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, there are also some people who can be optimists and pessimists at the same time, but aren't realists. I think I read about this one guy who was an optimist because he used the really really pessimistic/borderline paranoid side of him to prepare for any possible disasters so that he could be prepared and not be afraid.

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