One of my favorite story tellers to listen to on the radio has always been David Sedaris.

It is only recently that I have started reading his words. My friend gave me her copy of Me Talk Pretty One Day and I have been flying through it. It is one of the best things to read before bed, as it is essentially short stories. If you haven’t read his stories yet, I recommend it.

Here are my favorite David Sedaris podcasts from NPR.

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When I was in Seattle, my friends and I were talking about the burdens of being a sensitive person. My friend Bonnie was reading a book called The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron, Ph.D and she deemed all 4 of us HSPs (highly sensitive peoples). 

If you are wondering if you are highly sensitive, here are some questions to reflect on:

• Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
• Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?
• Do you make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows?
• Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
• Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?
• Do you notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art?
• Do you have a rich and complex inner life?
• When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?

I don’t relate to the more physical questions like smell, sight and taste but I have certainly been called sensitive throughout my life, and lately I have really been feeling a lot of feelings. I think I need to get that book Bonnie was reading…

For more in defensive of HSP’s, check out this article.

My dad used to recite this poem for us when my siblings and I were little. I think that we could all recite a couple of verses on any given moment. There are still days that this poem gets stuck in my head and today is one of them. I still can’t read this poem without hearing my dad’s voice in my head.

A week or two ago I watched “The Loneliest Planet.”  Despite extremely limited dialogue, the story has stuck with me and I keep thinking back on it.  I don’t think it’s actually a story about loneliness so much as it is about separateness.  It’s a beautiful film, shot in the Georgian (the country, not the state) mountains.  If you’re in a quiet enough mood to get into it, I think you’ll enjoy it.  If you’re not, watch this.

Footnote: I just read this cutting review of the film and now wonder if I dislike it, or possibly myself, much more than when I started the post. I kid, I kid. I still like it and I like myself. However, I hear where he’s coming from. Fair warning, the review gives away the whole movie, if that’s even possible.

I am obsessed with Kristen Wiig! I can’t get enough. I think she is one of the funniest comedians that I have ever seen. Lately, when I need a laugh, I have been watching her best skits on SNL.

Huffington Post put together her 15 most memorable skits here. Please check it out. They are hilarious.

I have started to save some of my favorite text messages lately and it has paid off. Whenever I am scrolling through my pictures, some positive and encouraging words always come up. Here are some that have stuck with me:

I recommend that you start taking screen shots of your favorite words exchanged.

I was driving home yesterday listening to an On Being podcast (recommended by Lauren) about poetry. It was the first time in a while that I remembered that I love poetry. I always have. It is not something I really ever talked to anyone about or made that big of a deal. I used to write poems for years and years – up until the end of college. Listening to Sarah Kay’s passion for spoken word inspired me to start writing again; mostly because I realized it was one of the only things in my life that I shared only with myself.

Check out her Ted Talk:

Do you ever feel disconnected from yourself?

Lately I have been. Dare I say that I miss my days of unemployment, searching for any words of wisdom that grabbed my attention, like graffiti on the street or a message in an email. I used to spend hours meditating and doing yoga. It was such a quiet and reflective time. When I look back, I realize that it is true, you do your most growing during the hardest times in your life.  It can be challenging to stay connected to yourself when your life starts to pick up and you are in a groove.

Sometimes you need to remind yourself to slow down – catch up with yourself.

Stop in and say hello. 

Reading list

To me you are the wind in the trees
(the rustle of the leaves)
the planted plot of grass

(humming)

that this too shall come to pass

You are my truth
and home

that place I live alone

To me you are my thoughts
(the scents)
the things you represent

You are eternal love
a sign to trust
a place to lay
when I’m having a bad day