I was 50 before I realised that I did not experience the world in quite the same way as most people. I’ve written various posts on being a Highly Sensitive Person, gifted, intuitive, an Empath and a synaesthete and will be doing more on these subjects, but I today I’m drawn to writing about my experiences of living a highly sensitive life.

I’m on my own today, so thought I’d take myself off to the local cafe for lunch and a read of my book. I sit myself on a squishy leather sofa in an inglenook at the far end of the room, next to a roaring log burning fire. Shortly thereafter, the sofa opposite is taken by a young black man, I’d say in his late twenties, sporting dreads and a cultured southern accent. We exchange brief pleasantries then I go back to reading my book while he chats to, who I assume, is his girlfriend or at the very least a close female friend on the phone. I can’t help but hear his side of the conversation.

He has, apparently, been travelling the country. Spent the Solstice at Stonehenge and this week has been in both Scotland and Cumbria. He extols the virtues of my homeland with its sweeping fells, meandering rivers and kind people. He is clearly on a spiritual quest, is deeply introspective and eager to learn to be the best version of himself he can be.

He chats for a solid 90 minutes to his phone companion. They fall over themselves to share their life experiences. He tells her how proud he is of her growth and is eager to share his with her. It is beautiful to listen to, they are obviously deeply connected and could clearly talk to each other all day.

All the while I’m reading a book given to me by a friend this week. It’s called Middleland by Rory Stewart, who for 10 years was my local MP. The beginning of the book describes the history of Cumbria from the Iron Age to the present day, and then tells of his time in Penrith & The Borders. He clearly loves this land I call home. “My strongest regret is that….I failed to express how intensely I loved the place….it was easier to tease, than to thank and praise the impressive and improbable people with whom I spent the most stimulating decade of my life”. He writes beautifully and with depth and I would hazard a guess he is also a Highly Sensitive Person. I can see me sending him a letter after I’ve finished the book.

I really wanted to chat to my lunch companion in the cafe, but he was engrossed in his phone conversation so instead I wrote him a note which I handed to him on my way out. It asked if he’d heard of the term Highly Sensitive Person, told him he should visit the stone circles at Long Meg and Castlerigg and said I thought he might enjoy the Spring Festival being held at the Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Ulverston next month which I’m attending. I wished him well in his journey.

Driving home in the car I was tearful. I have no clue why. I felt an energy connection to the stranger in the cafe and reading about my homeland in Rory’s book filled me with such gratitude I felt intensely emotional. This is just a snapshot of life as a Highly Sensitive Person. We do not inhabit the world in a superficial way. It is now an hour later and I still feel raw. Blessed, but raw.

I have had the most gorgeous week. Tuesday I attended my spiritual class where we explored aura reading – my energy was giddy on the drive home. Wednesday I attended Wyrd at Broughton Sanctuary, had a very intuitive runes reading and also interesting conversations about Soul contracts, Twin Flames and creativity. Friday I attended a Zoom meditation which included a chat with Cosmologist Bernard Carr, a professor of mathematics and astronomy who studied under Stephen Hawking at Cambridge, was President of the Cambridge University Buddhist Society and is a former Chair of the Society for Psychical Research – he asked if he could use one of my photographs for an upcoming article, about which I was thrilled. Then at 3am this morning I was chatting on Whatsapp with Mike Jawer, who has written 3 books on personality development, body/mind, emotion, and spirituality, been guest lecturer at several Universities and whose work has appeared in various international publications including Psychology Today and Scientific American. He has a particular interest in mirror synaesthesia. Then last, but never least, I’ve had lovely Easter messages from friends old and new.

I have not had much sleep in the past few days, however, so now this sensitive soul is ready for a little afternoon nap 😉 If you celebrate Easter I wish you joy at the resurrection and if you don’t I hope you’re enjoying the bank holiday weekend 🙏🏻