For when you're feeling extra sensitive
To all my emotion-filled baddies, this one is for you.
The thrum of Olivia Rodrigo’s voice filled the car as I drove down the hill in my neighborhood to run some errands. I know these roads like the back of my hand. I’m careful when I drive, partly because I walk them often and see too many people in a rush, pedestrians be damned.
I turned into a tight downward curve and spotted someone walking up the hill. I’d anticipated that. It’s a blind turn, and someone’s often there, so I took it wide, toward the middle of the road.
I glanced at the person just as I heard a shout and saw what looked like an irritated wave. They had headphones in, so I wasn’t sure if their frustration was directed at me. Confused, I replayed the moment in my head, trying to make sense of what I’d done to warrant that reaction.
Most people would let an instance like that go. Chalk it up to a misunderstanding and move on.
But me? I did the opposite.
Unease crept in and made itself at home for the next few hours. I couldn’t shake the encounter or the look on that person’s face.
That happened years ago (and yes, I still remember it) but it wasn’t a one-off. I’ve always been sensitive— to big interactions and even the smallest ones. Luckily, I’m self-aware enough to recognize when it’s happening, and I can use a few tools my therapist gave me to help move through the feelings faster.
But the truth is: I’m just a sensitive girly. I always have been. And honestly? I feel better now that I’ve stopped trying to fight it.
I know I’m not the only one. So if you’re sensitive too— if you feel a lot, often— this post is for you.
reminder 1
Feeling deeply is a beautiful thing. The world needs more people who are emotionally attuned. Just look at almost any artist as proof that sensitivity creates beauty. Or look at the current political climate as proof that a lack of emotional awareness leads to chaos and harm.
reminder 2
You're not broken. I used to think my inability to brush off negativity (especially when I worked in social media) meant I was weak. It doesn’t.
Being deeply affected by life, or the world, is a very human response. Our brains are wired to experience perceived rejection as physical pain. The same neurons fire whether something happens to us or we’re just witnessing it.
reminder 3
If someone treats your sensitivity like it’s a flaw, that’s a them problem. As long as you’re not hurting anyone, your feelings aren’t wrong. The right people won’t see your emotions as “too much.”
reminder 4
Put your phone down more. Social media is a cesspool of comparison, hate, capitalism, and worst-case-scenario stories. Your sensitive mind doesn’t need a front-row seat to that mess. Step into the real world more often. It’ll hurt less.
reminder 5
It’s not your job to manage everyone else’s emotions, especially at the cost of your own. In past relationships, I thought if I stayed hyper-aware of someone’s feelings, I could control the outcome—slightly. But I’ve learned that’s not how I want to live. I can state how I feel, set boundaries, and let those things be the anchor I need to remain steadfast that people don’t always need to agree with me.
As a new thing that I’m trying out, simply because it sounds fun, I’ll be listing a few things I’ve been loving lately.
loving 1: If you love RomComs, you’ll love Keeping It In The Family. It’s a friend of a friend’s book, so please go support!
loving 2: Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. At first because it was one of Rory Gilmore’s favorite books, now it’s because I found it to be a great read about being a woman.
loving 3: my friend’s new substack where she reviews movies like the new romance film, the Materialists.
loving 4: My film Olympus mju ii 110 film camera. I bought it on eBay, from Japan, and I pray the photos I took in Napa come out okay.
loving 5: My UCLA Extension classes. They aren’t cheap, but continuing my education in my 30’s has been beautiful and a good lesson that you can always learn something new.