Listen, if there's anything anyone should know about me, it's this: I'm really sensitive.

I can cry at the drop of a hat, and I love cutesy things and happy endings. I inherently believe people are good and I think the world is overall a good place. I frequently scroll on Facebook and cry at those videos of dogs with two legs learning to walk or some "Humans of New York" post involving little kids or the elderly.

I really can't help it; I see something that touches me and I just well up. Sometimes, I'll just be talking about something that means a lot to me and I'll get a little weepy. I used to be the girl who cried at any sad movies shown in high school and unabashedly so; while others tried not to cry, I'd be in the back sniffling softly. Anyways, you get the point. I'm sensitive, kind of feels like my heart's always about to burst from something just because I love it so much.

However, this usually leads people to say, "You're too sensitive!" or something along those lines. I consistently see people, especially online, try to act like apathy is the way to go in life: "Who needs feelings?" "I don't feel anything," and the list goes on and on. I feel like it's cool to be seen as aloof and apathetic, but you know what, it's really not.

Pretending like nothing bothers you and holding in your emotions is actually incredibly unhealthy to do. I used to be like that; I never cried and I pretended like nothing bothered me, and you know what happened? I started blowing up and crying at really minor things because I was suddenly overwhelmed by a bunch of repressed negative emotions that finally surfaced. I realized that it's really OK to feel things deeply and to not be ashamed of it, whether it's a picture of a dog being reunited with its lost family or seeing someone I love. I would rather be perceived as vulnerable or naive than to go through life pretending that nothing affects me.

There's this really great quote by Amelia Olson (the quote is actually usually misattributed to Zooey Deschanel) about being sensitive that has always stayed with me. My favorite part of it is "Don't let someone steal your tenderness...Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things." What a fantastic way to think, I thought the first time I saw this quote (after I teared up, of course). She ends the quote by saying "Feel it all -- look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and feel gratitude. Give and feel love."

Feeling is not a curse. Don't be ashamed that you have a big heart, and embrace it. Remember to stay open, stay tender, stay sensitive.