Be glad you are an introvert

Title

Creator

Lagcao, Ildefonso Velez

Language

English

Year

1957

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

only too well that they depend on him as though their lives hinge on his ability to meet their wants — simple wants. Monsignor has the longest memory on this side of the rainbow when it concerns the needs of his people. When we finally took leave in order to proceed to other "kampongs", the same spectacular, over dressed drama was given a repeat performance: the village en masse mobbed His Excellency for the kiss ing of his ring; I dared not do M.P. duty . .. several complained in straight terms why he could not stay a day or two longer. . . babies cried in mothers' arms, dogs howled in a gallant gesture of farewell. . . scantily-clad angels with "dirty faces" danced around in circles, interpreting their "piece de re sistance" for the final show . 1 Be Glad You Are An INTROVERT Und A Story i O YOU often stay alone? Do you prefer to be with, say, your books or with things of nature and j shun the company of people around ! you? Have you ever locked your self up alone in a room while a party or jam session was going on? Do you find difficulty in dealing with people because the business requires much talking and do you prefer to keep your mouth shut while a hot discussion is going on? If you do, you are an introvert. If you have spent a good deal of time fretting about your unhappy lot and wishing you were a member of a social set, stop pitying yourhave shone and have manifested sheer excellence in the different fields of specialization were deeprooted introverts. The great bulk of novelists, poets, composers, phi losophers, scientists and even stage actors are positive introverts. The immortal Angelic Doctor was so si lent while still a student that he was called the "Dumb Ox". The world's greatest scientist, Albert Einstein, was often so lost in contemplation that he used to mistake his cat for his wife, kissed it and called it "my darling". Greta Garbo, America's most beautiful and talented actress, is dubbed as "the Myth" for she heavily wrinkled elders with bared, white heads, wistful, stood beside His Excellency steeped with the dig nity and reverence of an age that has long passed. A sturdy steed named "Wungu Pau", a gift to Mon signor, was saddled. Others were also readied for the rest of us, mem bers of the retinue. His Excellency motioned everyone he was about to give his blessing. We all dropped to our knees on the hard, bare ground. . . his voice had the quality of a father's love at its profoundest degree as it fell upon us in be nediction: "In nomine Patris, et Filii..........." A goodbye cheer rocked the little village as Monsignor mounted "Wu ngu Pau".. . one last handshake with our brother Missionary whose life was burning away in the fire of his apostolic zeal... a wave of the hand... then ten stalwart, worthy horsemen holding multi colored streamers, Indonesian and papal banners preceded His Excel lency as we followed slowly the narrow mountain trails leading to the next "kampong". Everywhere we went, Poma-type reception was evidently common place. Hospitality was stereotype. Afterwards, when we. got back to our waiting Ford, dear Old Faithful, (Continued on page JO) • by ILDEFONSO VELEZ LAGCAO self. Otherwise you might find yourself playing fall guy for two evils — loneliness and pride. Lone liness because self-pity breeds con tempt for association with others; pride because you refuse to admit your limitations. If you are an in trovert, you are a lucky guy. I know of a certain fellow who typifies the run-of-the-mill "play boys". He is handsome and was born into a rich family. He goes to school in a flashy car, wears smart clothing, speaks different languages, always frequents the drug store and the nearby soda fountains, catches up easily with the latest steps and is very popular among the younger sets. But he flunked in three col lege courses and is starting his fourth in an unlimited series. This is not an isolated case. This runs through the entire species of socalled "regular guys” who flunk as often as they enrol and who become mediocres when they take up the greater responsibilities of life. It is to be noted with great signi ficance that many of those who lives alone and shuns publicity. James Dean and Marlon Brando are no exceptions. Thoreau, Swift, Byron, Carlyle, De Quincy, Poe, our own Nick Joaquin and Jose Garcia Villa, compose a magnificent coterie of introverts. Because most shy people have little needs, their lives are happier, if simpler. They have less needs and, therefore, less worries. The introvert "gets a big kick" out of being alone — sitting beside a brook and indulging in what appears to him as pleasurable contemplation. For the extroverts, it is a pity to be a "drip" or a "wet blanket". They get their share of joy in boisterous laughter and noisy company. They cannot resist the urge to do the town or show off their social linens. Every time they go out, everything they wear must be new and "class". Since they have more needs, they also have more worries. And very often, despair contaminates their souls while the shy, fingernail biting introvert is at peace with the world and with God. # JANUARY, 1957 Page 17

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