Yeah 3DOCTORS, that’s exactly how I feel, too. I didn’t mean to imply that one has to be some kind of social butterfly, because that completely goes against the grain for many of us, and wouldn’t even be possible anyway. It’s good to interact with people, though, and if one’s lucky one has a small circle of good friends. If one isn’t lucky in that regard it’s hard, and being quiet and introverted can make it all the more difficult.Interesting take - although as an introvert I tend to get my hackles raised because the world is so dominated by the extroverts that I don’t want to be told to socialize more.It’s not that I don’t think there are benefits - too much isolation can certainly be bad for a person, and our brains are wired to get some good neurotransmitters going with human contact . . . I guess I would say don’t force yourself into a type of socialization that isn’t “you” (parties, big crowds, or whatever) if you’re the type who’s easily drained and needs “down time” to recover from overstimulation as I do. But when the time is right, something like a relaxed lunch or walk with a good friend can do you good. Ideally someone with whom you spiritually connect, and enjoy exchanging news and ideas and encouragement with. Perhaps a person you pray or go to Mass or Adoration with.
But there is a tremendous amount of research which shows a correlation between social isolation and depression. Human beings are social animals and need to interact with one another in order to function at a high level. Introversion can sometimes hinder that, in my experience. It’s not that introversion itself is bad, it’s just that it can make it difficult to meet people and establish friendships. (And that can lead to depression, and that can lead to sloth. I’m off on a tangent here.) It’s something I struggle with myself, so I know for a fact that some people are like this. Solitude is good, but we need the company of others sometimes, too.