Wouldn’t it be great if there were a day dedicated to celebrating introverts!? Well, there is! World Introvert Day is celebrated on January 2nd each year.
For my fellow introverts, it’s a great time to think about how to embrace your quiet nature. For extroverts, it’s a great time to think about how to appreciate the introverts in your life.
This year, I find myself thinking about what the world would be like if there were only introverts. Or, at least if introversion were the dominant culture. Here are five, slightly comical, things that came to mind.
1. Restaurants and cafes would include more seating for one.
Dining alone is one thing extroverts have an extremely hard time understanding. So much so that single seating options that aren’t attached to a bar – or people giving you the side eye – are pretty much non-existent.
I can be completely content eating a meal or having a coffee solo with only my thoughts or a good book.
#JustCauseI’mAloneDoesn’tMeanI’mLonely
In an introvert-first world, single-seating would be more commonplace.
2. Icebreakers would be outlawed.
I love icebreakers … said no introvert ever! They are always awkward and typically force introverts in the room to do things that make them cringe inside.
In an introvert-first world, this type of forced socialization would be banned or come with a hefty fine. 🤨
3. Everyone would text before calling, and only when there’s a reason to.
I’ll be honest, I get a little annoyed when people call just because they want to be on the phone with somebody. That’s some extrovert stuff if I ever heard it.
I’ve communicated this – read annoyed tones and short responses – to most people in my life so it doesn’t actually happen to me that much anymore. Except for my very extroverted husband but he gets special privileges. 😉
And I don’t mean calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and want to see how they’re doing. That is an actual purpose. And, to be honest, we introverts probably need people to do this for us sometimes whether we admit it or not.
No, I’m talking about the conversations that start with “What you doin’?” and follow with nothing else but randomness.
No, thank you. Not in an introvert-first world! All phone communication would have a specific purpose.
4. Parties would include spaces for introverts and extroverts.
I bet you thought I would say all parties would be quiet, or there would be no parties. How not fun would that be!?
This is a popular misnomer. Introverts do enjoy parties from time to time. Just not often and in short order. We are more like party sprinters versus marathoners.
Having spaces that are a little quieter and offer different types of quieter activities helps us to stay longer because we can take breaks. This could even be a nice outdoor space apart from the music and crowd. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
In an introvert-first world, diverse personality spaces would be required for all parties.
5. We would all have an introvert easy button.
This is my imagination’s version of that easy button made popular in ads and memes.
It would be a button we can press when we inevitably end up in socially awkward situations. The button would instantly give us something to say or do to quickly dissipate the awkwardness, or escape the situation.
Come on, Wallflowers. Tell me that wouldn’t be a handy little tool to have!
In an introvert-first world, this button would be standard issue for every introvert upon entering Kindergarten.
Closing Thoughts
It’s fun thinking about an introvert-first world. The truth is you can make your own introvert-first world by setting healthy boundaries and prioritizing your need to recharge.
If you haven’t been doing this, I encourage you to give it a try in 2025. You won’t regret it!
