I'm afraid I don't contribute to the world's population of happy, bubbly, sanguine people. But then again, if there were too many sanguines in the world, I think we'd drive each other insane. So I'm melancholic, and a little phlegmatic too, all the characteristics that add up to that of an introvert. What's wrong with that? As long as I keep my feelings to myself, I don't think I'm hurting anybody, at the most, only myself.
Melancholic:
Blue, depressed, downhearted, dispirited, spiritless, wistful, sad etc
Phlegmatic
Impassive, indifferent, lethargic, unconcerned, incurios etc
There's really no use in telling a melancholic person to stop being so pessimistic and down all the time, it's like telling a sanguine to turn down his/her level of 'bubbliness'. It would mean a total change of character and that is not something that can be easily done since your character is what makes you, well...you. Being melancholic does not mean that we mope around all day dressed in black, we ARE capable of being happy and cheerful and lead normal lives like everyone else. It's just that we are less expressive and this causes people to think that we are generally disinterested, sometimes we even pass off as being 'cold'.
In the movie, Pride and Prejudice (I know I know, I just really love this story), there was a part where Darcy tells Elizabeth that he does not have the talent to converse easily with others outside his own party, I can completely relate to what he means. It comes so easily for some but for others like myself, it takes so much effort that sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. Some are just gifted with the talent to socialize easily with others, but one has to remember that not all of us are so fortunately gifted in that way. It's somehow hard for those who are blessed with such easy manners to understand those who are not. "Why are you so quiet?" "Break out of your shell, em!" "Don't be so shy laa.." These are just a few of the many things that my friends have told me. My dear friends who have offered such kind advice, I am trying, but if it were as easy as simply saying it, I would have broken out of 'my shell' many years ago.
However, there is a certain mindset I feel people really have to get out of. It is the mindset of thinking that soft-spoken people have no stand and would not leave a very significant mark in life. How wrong you are and I certainly can't express enough the desire of wanting to prove these people wrong! But that I shan't, for it will only bring about an arrogance I shan't want to feed. Many a time have I heard remarks from people saying, "You were in debates?? But you're so quiet!" "You taking law ar?? So quiet can become lawyer wan ar?" Don't judge a book by it's cover. I'm soft-spoken..not retarded, I can very well speak up for myself where I feel I am right. In fact, it is the soft-spoken people that you should be looking out for, because you do not know what they are truly capable of.
There are of course good sides to melancholy-phlegmatic people, though I'm not saying that everything else is a bad side. We're good listeners, are loyal friends and don't offend people very much because of our calmness and slow-temperament in nature. Thus, though we may not have a large number of friends, what we do have are a select few who are extremely close friends (you know who you are=) )
All in all, there are many characteristics that make up a person. We should be respectful of each one instead of just expecting them to be like yourself. There are melancholics, phlegmatics, cholerics and sanguines..and each are special in God's eyes. So everytime you feel like and odd-ball, everytime you feel left out, don't look to people, but rather, look up..to the One who created you, for He loves you like no one else ever can.
Random thought of the day:
(It's not that random today) It does not matter how much you talk, what matters is what you talk about.
