Communities That Nourish Our Growth

 

Today I want to follow up a little on something I said in last week’s blog. We sometimes assume that an introverted person is shy or does not have confidence, and that extroverts are confident. That is not necessarily the case. The introverts may prefer to stay home rather than go to a social event, and they may prefer to talk to one or two people at an event rather than try to interact with a large group. Likewise, an extrovert may prefer to go to a gathering rather than stay home and read a book. Being an introvert or an extrovert is just the way we interact and the way we refresh and renew. It has little to do with our well-being, and in most cases it does not interfere with our ability to be successful. There are a number of things both physical and psychological that may cause us to be shy, lack confidence, or struggle with our responsibilities. We may need help from friends, family, or even a professional to help us navigate our duties. I taught school for thirty-one years, and I found that most of the students were able to grow into strong young adults, but sometimes that’s not the case. 

 

Having said all the above, I believe that the school community can, along with family and other institutions, contribute greatly to a young person’s growth and happiness. In my next novel, there are many examples of how friends, peers, teachers, parents, and counselors help one another to build a caring community. I hope that you are in a supportive, encouraging community that helps you grow.