Big thanks to Walt’s Waltz and Susan Crooks for inviting me to speak in Greenville, SC this past Thursday and Friday!! Our discussions around highly sensitive men, HSS/HSPs, and HSPs were made all the more poignant and real by the simple fact of being face to face with other people. This may seem trivial but in our modern world of screens, monitors, and calls it’s sadly becoming increasingly rare to be in the presence of other warm, breathing people alive with curiosity! I thank you for that!

A few reflections in hindsight. One, people are curious and interested in learning more about what it means to be highly sensitive in a literal sense (what is the trait itself and the so-what factor). Both of the wonderful groups I met with, BOLD Leadership Network and our public event at the University Center of Greenville, proved to be receptive and interested audiences whom I felt instantly comfortable sharing everything I have learned about HS men, HSS/HSPs, HSPs, and numerous topical areas of interest to various members of each group.

I realized as well that people are very interested if they happen to have a highly sensitive son and would like to not only know more about high sensitivity but how they might help their hs sons navigate areas like school, athletics, interpersonal dynamics, and self-care. This is an area we need much more on in the way of resources and also outreach! It’s not enough to create books, articles, podcasts, and films/videos. Parents want to speak with other live humans who they can connect with and feel like their concerns are valid and that they aren’t alone in attempting to understand how to best support their highly sensitive sons.

Education and outreach is another prominent topic of great interest, especially for BOLD Leadership Network as they work to provide program offerings supporting academic achievement for African-American students in the Greenville, SC area. They’ve had some encouraging success and props to Edward Anderson and Damon Qualls for creating and carrying out this BOLD initiative to develop leaders and build their community!! It was amazing to meet, connect, and share what I know about highly sensitive men, HSS/HSM, and talk a bit about human motivation, educational persistence to graduation, and see the eyes light up in realization that being highly sensitive is actually empowering in very pragmatic ways!! I look forward to how we might partner again in the future to support highly sensitive students and leaders as the real influence of Sensitive Men Rising begins to to build momentum and impact in the world.

Lastly, I am left with an appreciation of the sheer level of human effort that we HSPs put into bettering our communities, easing suffering, building and nourishing connections, and doing so with warmth (real human warmth), charm, tenacity, creativity, and S.T.Y.L.E. (Men with STYLE Podcast)! In the darkness of our times it’s easy to forget the many people who sustain the light and continue to do our part to bring vision, strength, and shared humanity to the world!

The efforts to have our voices heard, our wisdom listened to, or our visions realized is an ever-ongoing one that is not tied to any movement, not susceptible to the whims of culture, and not based in the profit motive. The leadership and guidance we provide is an ethical and moral one with greater good in mind for all, fuller realizations of our possibilities as human beings, and to go there together shoulder to shoulder and hearts leading the way!