Before I start this post, I must say and thank the Universe because it seems like the Universe had taken it upitself to untangle my life.
Since 2013 Life hadn’t been fair to me as so was 2023. 2023 wasn’t a year of glittering headlines for me. It was a year etched in whispers; a silent film played out in the hushed corners of my soul. You see, I’m not wired for the fanfare, the drumbeat of constant chatter. My words bloom like orchids in solitude, needing quiet to take root. But this year, amidst the introspective symphony of my life, a discordant note emerged: the sting of betrayal from another childhood friend.
I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve, trusting with the naiveness of a child chasing fireflies. But trust, I learned, can be a fickle firefly itself, illuminating warmth one moment, leaving you in the cold the next. People, lured by the quiet ease of my nature, the non-confrontational way I let things slide, took my kindness for weakness, my silence for consent. They borrowed my trust like ill-fitting sweaters, discarding it when it no longer served their purpose.
I have a very strong memory so I remember each betrayal by friends and family and backstabs that had felt like a shard of ice piercing my soul. Words that once poured forth like a gushing spring dwindled to a hesitant trickle. My smile, once as bright as a sunflower, became guarded, a half-moon glimpsed through storm clouds. My introversion, once a sanctuary, began to feel like a fortress, built out of self-preservation, bricks mortared with unspoken pain.
But within this fortress, something shifted. In the quiet chambers of my being, resilience bloomed. The scars of betrayal, though raw, became badges of honor, testaments to the battles I’d fought within. I learned to speak through my eyes, letting them flicker with quiet defiance, a storm brewing behind the veil of silence.
My voice, though soft, gained an edge, a steely glint that said, “No more.” I set boundaries, lines drawn in the sand with the sand of self-respect. No longer would I be the doormat on which expectations danced. I began to curate my circle, letting in only those who saw the symphony in my silence, who valued the whispered wisdom in my stillness.
In these stolen moments of genuine connection, I found solace. Laughter that once felt forced became genuine, echoing in the shared language of empathy and understanding. The world, I discovered, held pockets of quiet beauty, hidden gardens where introverts bloomed like exotic orchids, their fragrances mingling in the cool evening air.
As 2023 draws to a close, I stand taller, not despite the scars, but because of them. My introversion is not a flaw, but a compass that guides me to the havens of inner peace. My voice, though soft, carries the weight of experience, a lullaby hummed to those who find solace in the shadows.
This is my message to the introverts who have been betrayed, who have had their trust shattered like delicate glass:
Rise from the ashes of betrayal: Let your wounds become the crucible that forges your resilience.
Embrace your quiet strength: Your gentle nature is not a weakness, but a hidden reservoir of power.
Speak your truth, softly but fiercely: Let your voice, though hushed, carry the weight of your wisdom.
Find your tribe: Seek out kindred spirits who appreciate the symphony of your silence.
The world may crave fireworks, but in the hush of your silence, find your own, shimmering symphony. Let your scars be beacons, not burdens, guiding you towards a future where trust is earned, not assumed, and your quiet soul finds its chorus in the echoes of genuine connection.
This post is part of The Year & You Blog Hop hosted by Swarnali Nath.
I’m going to bookmark this so I can read it whenever I need it. These are powerful words!
Sometimes, gone by year does not leave us with pleasant memories. But I am a person who believes in the power of our thoughts. So, I strongly feel that if we look for our future with positive thoughts then we can channelize our energies in that directions. Road might be bumpy but when the good times will come our way, the thoughts we have cultivated so far will start taking their shape and will give us desired result.
Love your message to introverts, especially this part “Your gentle nature is not a weakness, but a hidden reservoir of power.” I am an introvert and have been working on seeing that part of me, as well as my sensitivity, as a power! Well said!
Moni Dear,
First I will say smile big and be proud of yourself. How far I got to know you, you are a strong headed , energetic, unstoppable and talented lady who never bows down in the hands of time. Moni you are a fighter who is brilliant in everything she handles in life.
I will say one thing more… trusting is good but don’t overtrust as that can lead to self hurt. I used to cry a lot when my friends or relatives used to hurt but no more I do that now… I just ignore and be silent. Silence speaks million words just use it wisely.
I m confident that life will bless you with happiness and success in 2024. Just smile.
Love you❤
Samata
Though i am not an introvert, i can relate to the feeling,Moni. I have lost so many friends. But even at 60 i am making new genuine friends. I am avoiding all toxic people and this has given me a sense of freedom that i never felt before.
I have definitely felt betrayed or taken advantage of many times. These are good words to think about.
I need to find my tribe. That will bring me lots of joy.
These are great words of wisdom to leave 2023 with and bring into 2024!
Wishing you all the empowerment and growth in the coming year—here’s to rising from the ashes and finding our own shimmering symphonies!
Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this message of encouragement for all of us who have felt betrayal. You are a strong and thoughtful person.
I love the message of embracing your quiet strength. Too often people mistake quiet for weakness but it’s actually the opposite!
It can be hard to find one’s tribe, where one feels fully at ease and at peace. These are great points to find the right people to surround yourself.
Love the reminder to embrace your quiet strength! So often people think of being quiet as weak, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s such a balance between speaking your truth and knowing when to bite your tongue.
I have been in similar situations as a huge introvert and have also got to the point where I will no longer be used as a doormat. I love your message to fellow introverts, very wise words.
I had set boundaries myself years ago and never looked back. Life has been way more happier and definitely peaceful. Happy 2024!
I hope you have the most amazing of New Years for 2024 and I hope this for all! I am so pumped for a fresh new start!
A lot of beautiful words of wisdom that we can use or hold in this coming year. Happy New Year everyone!
Such powerful words, and so poetically woven, I feel for you. Thank you for these words, Moni. I’m going to remember this – ‘My introversion is not a flaw, but a compass that guides me to the havens of inner peace.’ I myself am trying to find my symphony in the silence, but there is just too much noise around. I hope to get there soon. Here’s wishing you powerful year ahead ❤️.
Wow, this is like a balm to the soul. To all introverts out there who’ve faced betrayal, this is a beacon of hope. It beautifully articulates the strength that lies within our quietness!
These are awesome words of wisdom to leave 2023! I am saving your post for reference! Love it!
Your writing was very eloquent today. Our pain teaches us a lot, that we only appreciate in hindsight. Moni, standing up for yourself is important, we cannot always keep forgiving and forgetting or staying Mum when people hurt us. You have evolved and people acknowledge and feel the change in you when the waxy softness changes into steel.
Betrayals, that too by a friend, are not something one can forget easily. It’s good to know you were able to find the silver lining in this situation. And I agree, introversion is a gift – we just need to learn to stop apologizing for it.
Dear Monidipa, this is a heart-touching account of the self-conversation of an introvert. Once an introvert and always an ambivert, I can feel how much we have to hear from others and the constant judgements. But it’s very nice to see how you overcome them and emerge into a powerful lady. Every word resonates with me and absolutely loved the poetic gesture. Thanks for joining us in the blog hop and making it successful with your gracious presence. Wishing you Happy New Year.
Till long, I felt the same about betrayal, silence taken for consent and non-confrontational attitude for stupidity. But as time progressed and more betrayals took place, I took is a karmic end with people who taught me to beware of fake promises or short-term gains. It’s a lesson learned the hard way, but the sweetness is that now you are a more evolved soul. May 2024 be more resilient and happier.
Finding your tribe is important where you can be yourself without the fear of being judged.
So proud of you, Monidipa!
You have risen and faced the challenges of life.
2023 had been unkind, but you made the most & emerged stronger.
May you stand taller and move with your compass in 2024 too.
Love your post. It resonates so much.
From one introvert to another, “Here’s to always embracing the authenticity of your introverted soul.”
Thanl Leha. It means a lot.
You have my empathy for facing such betrayals.
I’m happy you’ve embraced the scars left behind by bitter experiences.
I hope you find your tribe and better people who accept you for who are you, and who push to become a better version of myself without changing your essence.
May you have a great 2024, Monidipa. Wishing you all luck, strength and positivity.
Sone lines from blog I’m going to remember for a long time:
1. “Trust can be a fickle firefly, illuminating warmth one moment, leaving you in the cold the next.”
2. The world, I discovered, held pockets of quiet beauty, hidden gardens where introverts bloomed like exotic orchids, their fragrances mingling in the cool evening air.
3.My introversion is not a flaw, but a compass that guides me to the havens of inner peace.
Beautiful write up ! You have so poetically described your feelings. There was a symphony in your writing. Especially, the last message to all introverts.
Nice poem toward the end. Betrayal is a bit@h. But you also learn from it and you are stronger and wiser. People betray due to their own insecurities. We have to understand that. But so glad you got out of it and wrote this post. More power to you, dear!
Oh, dear… This post resonates deeply with me.Life’s trials have a way of shaping us, turning wounds into sources of strength. The journey from betrayal to resilience is beautifully expressed, highlighting the power of embracing one’s true self and finding solace in genuine connections. The reminder to speak our truth, cultivate quiet strength, and surround ourselves with those who appreciate our unique symphony is truly inspiring. Wishing you continued growth and triumph in the upcoming year.
It’s not easy to find the inner voice when the chaos around distracts you. Loved your beautiful words woven into a garland that’s symbol of a silent warrior. God bless you!
Aditi
People often take silence as a weakness. We introverts tend to deal a lot with that. So glad you were able to move beyond the betrayal and find your tribe. Loved the lines you penned. Particularly “Your gentle nature is not a weakness, but a hidden reservoir of power.” Hope 2024 is kind to you. God bless.
Betrayals are terrible, but I’m glad it diverted you to the positive side. SOmetimes, we learn lessons the hard way, but on hindsight, we’re glad that those things happened to us, otherwise we would never find the right path. Good luck for 2024, Monidipa.
This is such a heart touching post and yes, finding the right tribe really helps . You have beautifully narrated the power of being your own self. And trust me I understand the pain of back stabs. I have had many in my life myself. So, I pass on a little sunshine your way and may you keep shining bright this year too !
Being introvert is also a quality to flaunt just like an extrovert, not being awaken to vocalize voice at the right time is a flaw that could happen with anyone here irrespective their personalities introvert or extrovert. I hear you dear, these bitter experiences of life are the ladders that help us in taking close to the sunshine of our better version. I wish you the best of everything in 2024.
Such a great blog to read. There is no doubt that we all carry scars from the past from different times in our lives. But the best part of this article you learn a lot.
Betrayal from near and dear ones are the hardest to accept and get over. This could easily be me and like you I’ve learned to not say ‘no more’ the hard way. For someone who cares genuinely for others I truly hope this doesn’t make you wary of making friends again. Lesson learnt, 2024 is a new year!
Sorry to hear that you faced betrayal and your trust was broken. But glad to see that you have overcome that and found strength within.
For a moment I thought you were talking about me. you nailed your poem with words that could encourage introverts like me. Happy 2024 dear.
Sometimes, the past year wasn’t great, but I believe in positive thinking. If we focus on the future with a positive outlook, even when things get tough, our good thoughts will eventually bring good results.
Its like you read my mind You appear to know so much about this like you wrote the book in it or something I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit but instead of that this is excellent blog A fantastic read Ill certainly be back