Fragment: HSP

"There has got to be a place in the world for people like me...."

-Neny

This is how I feel tonight, after my conversation with my friend Vel. But it is actually how I feel most of the time.

Writing this just made me think of a concept I came across with 2 years ago on a magazine. HSP--Highly Sensitive People (concept developed by Dr. Elaine Aron). I remember when I read the article, I felt an incomparable comfort! A connection never made before in my life. Suddenly, there was meaning to the way I am, and not only was it an exact description of me, but it also pointed out that being the way I am is actually a GIFT.

These are statements that describe an HSP:

You, your partner, or someone important to you have a heightened awareness of subtleties in your environment, whether it's sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell.

You can become stressed out and upset when overwhelmed and may find it necessary to get away, maybe into a darkened room, to seek solitude, relief and comfort.

You are very creative.

You are very conscientious, hard working, and meticulous, but may become uncomfortable and less efficient or productive when being watched or scrutinized.

You feel compelled to file and organize things and thoughts, also enjoy simplicity and may become overwhelmed or even immobilized by chaos, clutter, or stress.

You are very uncomfortable when feeling things are getting out of your control.

You get a sense of comfort and well being when around a lake, river, stream, the ocean, or even a fountain.

You may experience mood swings, sometimes occurring almost instantly and can also be affected by other people's moods, emotions and problems.

You have a deep, rich, inner life, are very spiritual, and may also have vivid dreams.

You are very intuitive and you feel that you can usually sense if someone isn't telling the truth or if something else is wrong.

You get concerned and think or worry about many things, and have also been told "you take things too personally."

You have had the experience of "cutting people out" of your life.

You were considered quiet, introverted, timid, or shy as a child.

If interested by this new concept in the world of psychology and human behavior, please read more here:

http://www.highlysensitivepeople.com/

Or you can purchase the book, "THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON" by Elaine N. Aron. It is a MUST-GET for me!

"-You came to HOME DEPOT and got a flower?

-Yea, so?

-You're missing the whole point of being here!"

(excerpt from a scene, TV show 'The New Adventures of Old Christine')

I'd definitely be that person that gets a tiny flower from Home Depot and feels fascinated by JUST it ;)

NOTE: this is the link to the actual HSP test http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm. I answered 25 of 27 affirmatively!