OFTEN WHEN movie stars are interviewed, they will say, “I’m really a very shy person.” The contrast between their very public career and their personal claim seems so drastic that their comments are hard to believe. They may or may not be who they claim, but it is possible that normally, they are genuinely shy.
Some people are innately reserved in their manner, naturally more comfortable with the inner world of private experiences. They may have a well-developed sense of self and understand that when they feel embarrassed it is the external situation, rather than some defect in their own character. They may also realize that many other people are also this way.
If shyness makes you miserable, a sense of shame may be behind your needless suffering. But if you simply accept feeling different from those who aren’t shy, it’s possible to enjoy solitude without feeling lonely. Shyness can reflect a deep sense of shame or simply a natural preference for solitude. The former hangs like a dark cloud over your life. The latter feels like a fresh spring shower.
When we honor our peculiarities, we can make the most
of all the singular things we are.