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Poetry

The six Ws of introversion

Why do I feel like an outcast, a misfit in this society?

Maverick Kabelo29 Dec 20221 min read
A man with long locs sits alone on the edge of a bed in profile, head bowed, in a bright white room
Alex Green (Pexels)

Why do I feel like an outcast, a misfit in this society?
Why do I struggle to connect, to find my tribe?
Why is it so difficult for me to be myself, to let my true self shine?
Why do I feel like I don’t belong, like I’m not good enough?

Who am I, really?
Who am I beneath this mask of shyness and insecurity?
Who am I when I’m alone, when I’m not trying to please others or fit in?
Who am I, and do I even matter in this world?

What is wrong with me, this enigma of self?
What makes me so different, so awkward and anxious in social situations?
What is the root cause of my introversion, my social phobia?
What is the key to unlocking my true potential, my happiness?

How can I ever hope to change, to break free from this prison of self?
How can I find the courage to be myself, to pursue my dreams and passions?
How can I find acceptance, understanding, and belonging in this world?
How can I find happiness and fulfillment in my life?

Where do I belong, in this tapestry of humanity?
Where do I fit in among all these extroverted, confident people?
Where do I find my place, my purpose, my tribe?
Where do I find acceptance and understanding?

When will things get better, this cycle of frustration and self-doubt?
When will I find the answers to these questions that plague me?
When will I find the strength to overcome my social anxiety and embrace my true self?
When will I find peace and happiness?

These are the questions that haunt me,
The doubts that linger in the back of my mind.
But I hold on to hope, to the possibility of change,
To the chance to find my place in this world, to be happy and kind.

Written byMaverick KabeloFounder, Digital Thread

Speaker, founder and civic organiser working across Botswana and South Africa on digital strategy, AI, data protection and youth leadership. Founder of Digital Thread and The Civic Chapter; founded Africa’s Very Own in 2018.

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