It’s my humble opinion that word choice is critical when dealing with these ideas. I can select words that fan the flames of controversy or create divisiveness, or I can use words that enlighten without inviting unnecessary tension. And this all depends on the context I’m speaking in as well. Since this is a public blog, I have no idea whether or not my guests are gifted or not, and I’m try to be conscientious of that fact. I believe that the vast majority of those who stick around ARE gifted, but I don’t presume all are.

Yes, it is terrible that you have been shamed for who you are and how you relate to the world around you. I had been there myself, when I was much younger. I learned to keep the spiteful people in my life at a distance and learned to be confident in my own skin.

My favorite quote of all times, “speak softly but carry a big stick”. I apply this to my life by this way: stop fighting with those around me, because my “big stick” is the internal fortitude I get from knowing I can always walk away from those who hurt me. My power is in taking away their power to hurt me. I secretly know I am better than them, but it does no good to try and convince them of it. I only waste my energy and time.

But getting back to nomenclature, I don’t need the terms gifted or sacred, or anything to let me know that I’m very capable of complex thoughts/emotions/intuitive leaps of cognition.

I’ve been through quite a transformation (and back again) these past 5.5 years. I went from smart to stupid to smart again.

I have to say (again) it’s INCREDIBLY hard to be one’s own support system. I’ve mentioned to you before about the crushing weight on one’s psyche because I know it all too well.

That oppressive weight does a couple of things: it crushes one’s esteem, it causes isolation, and it deceives on of the truth.

I’ve seriously considered suicide no less than 5 times in my life. When I was in 8th grade, when I was 18, when I was in my career in forensics and at least twice when I became a mother of my third child.

Many times the thought runs through my mind that life is just too hard to keep going, especially when I feel overwhelmed. My first thought runs not to get help, but to get out.

Life as a gifted individual, especially one with multiple OE’s (and not all gifted individuals have all of them) can be so exhausting…

No one does this to me. I do it to myself – mostly by administering my own regimen of self care.

The truth is, gifted individuals ARE more powerful than they give themselves credit for. Including you.

But…when one realizes this, I think for the simple fact of being humanistic, there is a responsibility to use this power wisely.

You are absolutely right. It’s not a decision I have to enter in “alone”.

And if it doesn’t work out, it IS a boost to know I’m not the relic I think I am. If this isn’t the job that’s right for me and us as a family, my resume is updated, and ready to go for the job that is.

Thank you

At any rate, it is exciting news! And even if it doesn’t work out, it must be a great boost to know that you are still relevant in your field. I can’t wait to hear how things play out.

Heather

As with anything that “excessively” (yes, sneer quotes to set off my subjective quasi-assertion) depends on labels. Nothing really fits well in any box–or container–besides the one into which it has been imbued or set. Certainly no one likes feeling inferior. I know that I have not liked it. I don’t wish it on anyone else. But, I am my responsibility, and “they” are theirs.

I do not shy away from the challenges of linguistic difference in communication. Allow me to use your language: I know that I am qualitatively different in the experience of (nearly) every aspect of life. And that the potential of meeting internal–and external–conflicts everywhere I turn has been realized. The essence of these conflicts, I think, leads to the quandary of the cursed gift.

Thank you for sharing your forum. It often takes the edge off the curse.

Peace,

T

Yes, I’m definitely considering MIL/aunt-in-law. There’s still timing issues to work out with to/from school.

Over the summer wouldn’t be as complicated because I can drop them all off somewhere – in-laws or even my sister who is a teacher and has summers off. That would be great! My kids and hers get along really well.

Now the complex part about how to get them picked up from school and sent somewhere before work. If I could work 12-5, this would be most ideal. I’d have time to pick them up, drop two of them somewhere and get to work. Oldest daughter would stay in the “Adventure Club” after school. It’s a little chaotic there, but she’d enjoy the socialization aspect with her friends (we don’t do much after school with friends as it is).

The way I figure things…this job opportunity came around for a definite reason, and if it’s meant to be, the childcare arrangements should fall into place, right?

And if not, then it’s a clear sign it’s a no-go. I’m not going to compromise the quality of child-care for my own aspirations. As Dana Carvey would say imitating George Bush, “Not gonna do it”.

Now…I gotta get Jennaviere to chime in because this is working in a lab with some bloodborne pathogens. Do I REALLLY want to get back into doing microbiology, knowing I might be working with nasty little buggers?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Sorry, I’m getting a little loopy with what’s transpired this week.

It is flexible part-time (which can be difficult to come by) to be able to easily work out the best childcare schedule, and they aren’t bothered by your time out of the field (which is also difficult to come by), and you presumably would be working in a lower-stress environment compared to the forensic lab.

Unless a near-identical opportunity were to arise next year, it sounds to me like this opportunity is about as perfect as possible!

And as for ‘this year vs next year’, keep in mind that even when the girls are in school more steadily, there will still be a lot of time in the summer when they aren’t, when you would presumably still want/need to continue doing some amount of work for the company, and so the childcare arrangements would still be needed then.

I’m glad you replied, it was on my to-do list literally the next thing, but you beat me to it. I realize too, I hadn’t gotten your father’s contact info either.

Also, I’m behind in catching up with your blog…next thing on my to-do list.

So many things I’m behind on lately.

Welcome (back)!

No, I have not seen this poem before. What a beautiful and accurate expression of what it’s like to be this sensitive.

This one is definitely a keeper.

Thank you for sharing it with me.