the quiet strength of confidence.

Why My Confidence Isn’t Tied to Someone’s Perception

photo downloaded from Google

In my quest to find love, I met James. Now, James isn’t the type of guy who dominates a room or seeks attention. He’s quiet, reserved, and not the jovial, “look-at-me” kind of person. In fact, he’s the complete opposite of me. I’m loud, bubbly, and energetic—basically, an extrovert through and through. But despite how different we are, I found myself intrigued by him.

It all started when he asked me out on a date. I honestly don’t know what made him take the leap, but I wasn’t about to mess it up. I knew I had a messy, clumsy personality and could be all over the place, but something about James just drew me in. I really wanted us to be together. After all, who wouldn’t want to be with someone like him?

We sat down at the restaurant, and I couldn’t help but feel nervous. The silence between us made me anxious. I was dying to know more about him, but I wasn’t sure how to start the conversation. I thought to myself, Maybe I should ask him why people say he’s weird in the neighborhood… No, no, no, Emmy—don’t go there on the first date!

Then, to my surprise, he smiled at me. Did he just… smile? Oh my gosh. Was he actually interested in me? My heart raced, and I quickly shifted my focus to him as he cleared his throat and began…