And they wonder how I can spend a long weekend holed up in my room doing “nothing,” not realizing that despite my three days off work, I still feel I don’t have enough time to enjoy my books, writing, series and movie marathons, and arts and crafts.

I am often asked about how I can enjoy shopping or watching a movie by myself; I wonder how they cannot.

They marvel at how I can travel alone and be fine with it when I have always thought of travel as a journey of self-discovery, reflection, and learning.

It’s not that I don’t like people. I do (well, at least some of them, heh), and I love spending time with these people, but being introverted, I have always needed an alone time to think things over and recharge.

For me, being alone is not synonymous with being lonely. One can revel in being alone without feeling like s/he’s missing out on anything.

I am the happy introvert who is comfortable in my own company. I’m not anti-social, just selective of the company I keep and enjoy. And while some spend a lifetime chasing after their happiness, I have always found mine within myself.

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photo taken at Cornell University’s Botanical Garden using a Sony Cybershot RX 100 II.  Contrast edited via Snapseed.  Frame/border is also Snapseed’s.  Text added using Phonto.