Before you begin reading, I urge you to reflect for a few short moments. Reflect on the last time you cried. When was the last time you shed a silent tear, whether it be in public or the in the comfort of your own home? When was the last time you ugly cried, sobbing your heart out whilst making feeble attempts to control both the tears and the snot? When was the last time you saw or heard something that made you queasy in your stomach, that made you feel a sharp pang of pain in your heart?
Chances are, if you've felt so strongly in the past twelve to forty-eight hours, you're one of the sensitive ones, one of the lucky ones. Your emotions place you at a different level than everyone else. A cute baby doesn't just make you smile almost imperceptibly, it lights up your entire being. An animated Disney movie doesn't just tug at your heartstrings, it has you holding back fresh tears so your companions won't laugh at you. A scolding doesn't just affect you for the next ten minutes, it makes you question yourself for the next three to five business days.
Chances are, people have called you on it. "Don't take everything so personally," they say, chuckling good-naturedly.
Your opinion on a sad movie is immediately invalidated by "Oh come on, she cries at everything!"A joke made at your expense elicits guffaws of laughter from everyone in the vicinity and a forced smile from you. You just aren't capable of taking things with a grain of salt and in your worst moments, you wish you weren't so oversensitive.
The truth is, there's no such thing as "too sensitive." With every bad thing that is happening in the world, we need that many more people use their feelings for good. We need more people who can empathize with survivors of horrific accidents, who can raise money for them as well as support and morale. We need more people to fight for those whose voices go unheard. We need more shoulders to cry on and reasons to laugh. Yes, it's important to not let your emotions get the best of you. It's absolutely crucial to keep a clear head on your shoulders. But, it should be balanced out with a healthy dose of feelings. If you're one of those people who are capable of giving more love than you may ever receive, use it to your advantage. It's quite possible that people wish they had the same abilities.
So, the next time someone tells you that you're too sensitive; that you take things to heart too quickly; that no one will take you seriously, just remember that your sensitivity is a rare sixth sense, it shapes your perception of the world in a way that is unique to you.
