You have peculiar sensitivities, unruly anxieties, and effervescent expectations. Right? Next time someone asks you what giftedness and rainforest-mindedness is, you say this. After all, a rainforest is kind of peculiar, unruly, and effervescent.

Of course, you can add the big-hearted compassion. Vast, deep, bold intelligence. Unparalleled curiosity. But, depending on who you are talking to, that might not go over as well. You can say you strive. You quest. You seek. But that might confuse them.
You wonder, doesn’t everyone have these traits? And I would say, well, some of the traits, sure. But probably not all of them, all at once. Not at your level. Not at your intensity.
What am I talking about?
Peculiar sensitivities: You notice subtle sounds, fragrances, textures, colors, tastes, energies. You feel the hidden emotions in the room. You ache for plants and animals in need. You are affected a lot by medications, chemicals, and pollutants. Your empathy overwhelms you at times. You can smell someone who needs a root canal.
Unruly anxieties: You worry about whether you said the right thing or did the right thing. You are afraid your friends don’t really like you. You worry about anyone or anything that is suffering. You are deeply concerned about justice and equality. You worry you will damage your kids for life. You are nervous that you will be trapped somewhere without a book. You are anxious about the climate crisis. You feel guilt because you did not rescue your younger sister when you left for college. You remember the mistakes you made when you were five, like the time you smashed Louise’s sand castle.
Effervescent expectations: You set very high standards for yourself in many areas of your life. You are not easily satisfied by your accomplishments that others find impressive. You do not rest on your laurels but rather you raise the bar again and again. You have to be a very quick learner at anything you try. You think being gifted means you have to be perfect at, oh, everything.
Now, I realize I could be wrong about some of this. You may not be able to smell a root canal. You may be happy that you smashed Louise’s sand castle when you were five.
But chances are good, this is you in a blog post nutshell.
This is your brain (mind, body, heart, soul, spirit) on giftedness.
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To my bloggEEs: What other peculiar sensitivities, unruly anxieties, and effervescent expectations do you have? Thank you for sharing and for being here. Much love to you, always.
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