On a warm summer evening last week, I hosted Ann Arbor’s first HSP Empowerment Group gathering. (For those of you not familiar with the term, check out this previous blog post.) HSPs are only about 15-20% of the population, so in most social gatherings we are definitely in the minority. What a treat for us all to be at an event where everyone was an HSP! Instead of me writing about it, I asked those who attended if they would like to share their own experiences. Here’s what some of them said:
“Being surrounded by fellow HSPs felt like the homecoming I never knew I needed. The energy in the air was equivalent to that of a warm, wholesome safe embrace. I sensed no tension or depleting energy in the way that I often do when interacting with the other 80% of the world. The time we spent together felt like one long, calming exhale. I particularly cherished the opportunity for each of us to be able to authentically exist in and speak to our true essence – if even for just those two hours – and in return be accepted and understood unconditionally by one another. I look forward to being able to experience this special energy at future gatherings, it is truly a gift that every HSP deserves to experience! Thank you so much!”
“Thank you SO much for hosting the HSP gathering last night. It was so supportive and interesting to hear everyone’s perspective and experience. My efforts to get a quote together keep coming back to the sense of recognition I felt when each person spoke about their experience as an HSP. The flip side of that, is that we are all very different people, who have different gifts to share with the world. So this was a very hopeful message. Also hopeful was the sense of support from each person to members of the group, and to themselves. All of our hearts are broken in some way, but we are not all broken. And I hope someone will remind me of who I’m pharaphrasing there! Thank you, Christy, for making this happen!”
“I felt so validated and understood. Believing that this group will be very helpful for us all. And how nice of you to organize these meetings. I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am.”
“The get-together revealed for me the many commonalities of experience and awareness we HSPs have, despite our very different life paths. Recognition of the special needs and abilities arising from being an HSP can inspire us to more actively nurture and share with others our many good HSP-attributes.”
“The energy of having so many HSPs together in a gathering was amazing! It was so calming to me and that is something I didn’t expect. It was good to listen to everyone who shared their experiences and, seriously, I haven’t felt energy like that at a gathering….ever.”
Members of our new Ann Arbor HSP Empowerment Group have already been emailing each other helpful resources, and plan to meet regularly throughout the year for support and camaraderie. If you are wondering if you are an HSP, you can take the Sensitivity Quiz I highly recommend here. If you’d like to join our group of sensitive souls, please contact me! If you’re not local and are looking for community, check out the Sensitive Empowerment Online Community.
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