My old boyfriend told me once, "You're definitely a one-on-one girl, Jennifer." I think he was just making a simple observation, but one could easily take it as a compliment or criticism. There are people who just aren't good with big groups...in the midst of a crowd, they become seemingly quiet, mellow, and even boring/dull. If you are trustworthy and get them to yourself, they open up and show their true colors. I've always been aware of this type of people because, well, I'm pretty sure I'm one of them. What I haven't been aware of until recently is those on the other end of the social spectrum. We all know those people who shine in crowds, who are the life of the party, whose charisma and wit and creativity seem to grow with each additional person's attention. I admire this quality, because I could never in a million years embody it. But now I realize that sometimes, if you take these type of people out of the crowd and into a one-on-one situation, their personality either diminishes or changes altogether. I wonder if they are insecure about this the way I am insecure about being with tons of people.
I also wonder, about some people in particular, whether they are more true to themselves when they're with their big group of friends, or when they're with me.
Of course, there are those rare individuals who are the whole package; they shine whether they're with their best friend or a roomful of new acquaintances. Their good heart and friendliness and considerateness remains, regardless of the circumstance. But people like that come only once in a blue moon.
