If you know me in real life, you’d probably bet that I’m an extrovert. I’m very outgoing and love talking to people around me, including strangers.

Truth is I’m an introvert. While I can get some great energy from other people, I really need to be alone to recharge and I require a lot of alone time. Time spent reading, watching TV by myself, laying in bed and looking out the window. I need to start every day just with myself.

I feel pressure to go-go-go-go-go and hang with the group but I don’t like it and I’m certainly not my best self when I do that.

I feel a lot of guilt about this–that I don’t see my friends more and don’t see my family more (especially when we’re in PA) because I love them and I want them to know I love them (my love language is quality time, after all) and “if-I-did-love-them-I’d spend-every-minute-with-them-and-I-wouldn’t-get-tired.”

But I do.

Now that I’m realizing this and acknowledging it, it feels better. Because it’s not personal, it’s just me. Just what I need to be the best version of myself.