One wrong assumption people have made about me is that I am proud because I don't always relate with people the way they expect me to.
I am an introvert, and I have never really been comfortable in large crowds. I can be around people and still prefer to stay quiet, especially when I don't know everyone well. I don't always start conversations or join every discussion, but it has nothing to do with looking down on anyone. Even in my family I always stay by myself and everyone with time got used to it.
Sometimes, people see this and assume that I am keeping my distance because I feel too important to associate with them. That can be frustrating because they are judging me based on what they see without knowing what is actually going on inside me.
The funny thing is that I have actually been trying to become more outspoken and versatile. I want to be able to express myself better, interact more freely and step out of my comfort zone. So, while I may still be quiet sometimes, I am not necessarily trying to avoid people. I know that with time I will surely outgrow it.
When I realise that some people always see my quietness as pride, I always feel misunderstood. I wish they could see that being an introvert does not mean I dislike people. Sometimes, I simply need time to feel comfortable enough to open up.
I have learnt that I cannot control every assumption people make about me. I can only continue to be myself while making an effort to communicate better. Once people actually get to know me, they usually see that the person they thought was proud was simply a quiet person who takes time to open up and trust me, I'm very outspoken when I'm around someone I like.
Image is ai generated.