Some people may think it’s strange,
To prefer solitude over exchange.
But introverts know,
That they need time to grow.
Their inner world is their main range.
What do these luminaries – in alphabetical order – have in common? Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Charles Darwin, Dr. Seuss, Emma Watson, Frederic Chopin, Gordon Ramsay, Hillary Clinton, Isaac Newton, JK Rowling, Keanu Reeves, Larry Page, Meryl Streep, Nelson Mandela, Orson Welles, Pele, Quentin Tarantino, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Hawking, Taylor Swift, Usain Bolt, Vincent van Gogh, and Warren Buffet?
They were all introverts who left a mark in their respective fields. “Our culture is biased against quiet and reserved people, but introverts are responsible for some of humanity’s greatest achievements,” says Susan Cain, author of the best-selling book, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking“. She is also the co-founder of Quiet Revolution, a company that aims to empower introverts at work, school, and life.
Why talk about introverts now? Because January 2 is World Introvert Day. It was first held in 2011 when psychologist and author Felicitas Heyne published a blog post calling for a day for the misunderstood minority.
“Quiet people have the loudest minds,” noted Stephen Hawking. “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind,” wrote Albert Einstein. “I restore myself when I’m alone,” said Marilyn Monroe.
On this World Introvert Day, sit back and think how bland the world would be without thinkers and dreamers, and poets and authors. That’s because introverts are not anti-social, they just find their peace in the focal, of their own thoughts and dreams, where they can explore their chosen themes, and express themselves, usually in ways that are not loud and vocal.