Or At School You Might Have Been

Solitude Is Out Of Fashion. Our Companies, Our Schools And Our Culture Are In Thrall To An Idea I Call The New Groupthink, Which Holds That Creativity And Achievement Come From An Oddly Gregarious Place.

Evangelicalism Has Taken The Extrovert Ideal To Its Logical Extreme...if You Don't Love Jesus Out Loud, Then It Must Not Be Real Love. It's Not Enough To Forge Your Own Spiritual Connection To The Divine; It Must Be Displayed Publicly.

Introverts Are Especially Vulnerable To Challenges Like Marital Tension, A Parent’s Death, Or Abuse. They’re More Likely Than Their Peers To React To These Events With Depression, Anxiety, And Shyness. Indeed, About A Quarter Of Kagan’s High-reactive Kids Suffer From Some Degree Of The Condition Known As “social Anxiety Disorder,” A Chronic And Disabling Form Of Shyness.

Love Is Essential; Gregariousness Is Optional. Cherish Your Nearest And Dearest. Work With Colleagues You Like And Respect. Scan New Acquaintances For Those Who Might Fall Into The Former Categories Or Whose Company You Enjoy For Its Own Sake. And Don't Worry About Socializing With Everyone Else. Relationships Make Everyone Happier, Introverts Included, But Think Quality Over Quantity.

Solitude Is One Of Our Great Superpowers... Solitude Is The Key To Being Able To Make Effective Decisions And Then Having The Courage Of Convictions To Stand Behind Those Decisions.