Travelling allows us to meet new people and make new friends: I studied for six months in Aix en Provence, France in 2012, and instantly made friends with my Spanish neighbor. Beautiful, blonde, funny, smart, caring; I always thought she was an extrovert until some weeks ago that she was updating me about Madrid under lock-down. She recommended me an Instagram post that said something like this:
Whenever someone did not like me, I thought it was because perhaps I am an annoying person. Well, I might still be annoying for some other reasons, but Covid-19 lock-down has shown me that I am an introvert...
Now, look at this picture and tell me, do I look like an introvert or an extrovert person?
I guess many would say that I am an extrovert person. I travel a lot and speak different languages, so I should be an extrovert. Wrong. When this photo was taken, the photographer did a great job portraying me as an extrovert. My friend and I live almost 9,000 km away in different countries. Still, we consider ourselves restrained introverts who enjoy meeting people but love meaningful deep conversations instead of small talk with strangers.
Extroverts love to be in contact with other people. That is how they recharge their energies. Sometimes it looks like all solo travelers are extroverts, but what lies beneath their social media pictures? Covid-19 can confirm your suspicions of being an introvert:
-Do you need time alone to recharge?
-Do you feel stressed when not left on your own for a while?
-Do you like socializing?
If you answered yes to these questions, let me tell you, introverts possess an inner world that is enough for them to be with the only person they need to be with; themselves. An introvert's passions and interests develop while in solitude; they enjoy the silence and do not need external motivations to be joyous. Maybe that is why I dare to say most solo travelers might be introverts without even knowing! Traveling solo provides a space to be alone and recharge that most introverts cherish.
After all, being an extrovert or an introvert depends on the situation. We all need to find a balance to see what is best for our own mental health. As long as we respect each other and not impose our individual lifestyles, whatever works for each person will be correct. Find that balance and embrace it.