Connection is essential

As an introvert, I’ve long been beholden to the idea that I don’t need people, not really. I don’t feel restless or lonely if I spend too much time by myself, in fact, I often welcome it. 

But in the wake of COVID-19 and the recent period of enforced self-isolation, I’ve realised that, even though I may not always be fully cognisant of it, I do need other people. I need the connection that talking and laughing with others sparks. Its effect on me is subtle: I don’t go from feeling sad one moment to joyful the next, but I do notice a change in how I carry myself. I can breathe a little easier, see a little clearer; I’m lighter somehow.

The problem is, it can be hard to seek out contact with others when you grow accustomed to the walls you’ve built around yourself. While it’s no fault of the people themselves, the very act of reaching out can feel like a chore, as if the gap between you and the outside world is simply too large to close. 

But when you do reach out, the result is immediately gratifying. It’s not until the Zoom call connects and the familiar faces appear that you remember how good and how important it is to be seen and heard. To talk, to listen, to laugh, to re-establish the bonds that were always there, that refuse to come undone. 

So, don’t pull away when it feels hard, and don’t mistake connecting with others for something frivolous. It’s necessary, and you’ll be all the better for it.