How do you not be sensitive?

We were talking about being sensitive the other night at home. (My daughter got her feelings hurt by her brothers and has not spoken to them in three days). Growing up, I was told that I was too sensitive. False, by the way, but okay, I get it…there’s such a thing as being too sensitive. Certainly you can’t eradicate it from your life, though. I don’t care who you are, you are going to be a little bit sensitive. It’s human nature. My “boyfriend” said that when people say not to be so sensitive, they really mean that they’re going to criticize you and you better take it well! I guess I get that, too.

It’s a fine line from not getting mired down by the comments people make, and taking it on the chin. Although I was raised to be somewhat of a robot, I feel sensitivity at times gurgling in the pit of my stomach. Someone says something a little off, and I get quiet for some odd reason. I might not even meditate on the feeling it’s bringing me, it just invades me, burrows in my psyche, and moments later I don’t know why I’m sad.

Words are weapons; they can hurt, kill, and destroy. And by that, I mean they can take someone down without you even suspecting it could. “You are what you think.” Ever heard that saying? Ever crave a piece of salted caramel chocolate so bad, that all you do is think about it? Imagine the feeling you’ll get when you bite into it? The joy and happiness it will bring? And then it overcomes you until you get in your car at ten o’clock at night and drive to the nearest Walgreens and raid the aisle like you’re wearing a pair of nylon hose on your head and you’ll hurt anyone who stands in your way with coupons at the checkout? Yeah, me neither. 🙂 Same goes for hearing and believing good in yourself. You hear it and you believe it. The opposite, unfortunately is true.

I always try to build someone up and NEVER ever tear them down. But it happens. Accidents happen. Especially me, now that I read reviews of my books. The positive ones can make me skip for hours, but the negative ones can sit on my shoulders and bear down so hard that I wonder if what I write is utter junk. I think I better put on some of that robotic armor I used to wear when I was younger. That is, if I want to continue this writing gig! As for my daughter, I’ll encourage her to brush off the negativity and maybe go along for one of those Walgreen runs. 🙂