World Class Hugs

By Rachel Puryear

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know a lot already about empathic – aka “highly sensitive” or “HSP” people. And chances are, if you’re interested in the subject, you are also one yourself.

Empathic/HSP people make up about 20% of the population – this is true across cultures, and applies to all genders.

Even within the empathic/HSP fifth of the population, though, about a third of us are also high sensation seeking (“HSS” abbreviated) – meaning that we also crave adventure, novelty, experiences, and can be impatient with tedium and repetition.

At a glance, it seems that empathic/HSP traits and HSS traits are mutually exclusive, and in opposition with one another. But as each of these sets of traits are governed by different parts of the brain; people can have neither set of traits, one or the other, or both sets of traits.

See here for more about people who are both empathic/HSP and also HSS (also abbreviated as “HSS/HSP”).

People who are HSS/HSP often want to go out and experience more in life, but at the same time also stay home and relax, and have down time. It’s not an easy way to be, nor are we always readily understood by most other people.

At the same time, though, it’s also the best of both worlds – being able to appreciate variety, but also subtlety; enjoying adventures, but also appreciating a quiet day; having novel experiences, but also deeper insights. Despite the inherent challenges of being HSS/HSP, and our relative rarity in the population; we’re also uncommonly capable of getting the most out of life.

Anyway, what are some experiences that HSS/HSP people might enjoy? What appeals to our need for new experiences, and fun; while also giving us moments that will move us, and better connect with the people and places we love?

Here are some great activities especially for HSS/HSP people:

Traveling to New Places

Visiting and experiencing new places is a great activity for HSS/HSP people. There’s adventure, seeing a new place, being moved by natural beauty, and opportunities to learn and connect with more people.

One travel possibility that likely appeals to a lot of HSS/HSP people is traveling around via a van or RV. There’s the comforts of home, but also the freedom to explore.

Furthermore, visiting state and national parks goes well with this type of travel, and the parks are usually managed to where you can see amazing natural beauty, but with a lot of safeguards in place.

Small Groups of Friends

Most HSP people are introverts. But some are extraverts – and in any event, we all need some socialization. It’s just that to a large degree, most of us get more out of socializing in small groups than in large ones. Besides, small groups – particularly those of kindred spirits – tend to drain our batteries a lot less.

HSS/HSP people also tend to be introverts, but we also need to see our friends regularly. Although we may at times need to recharge after socializing, we often get energized when we’re connecting more deeply with those we love and care about.

Game Nights

No matter what kind of games you like to play, getting together and playing them is lots of fun. Maybe you have friends open to a game night, or maybe there’s a group nearby that has game nights, and welcomes new people (check sites like Meetup).

Games can offer excitement, stimulation (in amounts HSS/HSP people like), fun, and challenge. You can play old favorites, or learn new games. You can choose between competitive games that feed your HSS side, and also cooperative games that feed your HSP side.

Plus, you can play as little or as long as you want.

Learn Something New

HSS/HSP people tend to be highly curious, crave information, and like often learning new things. Regardless of what it is – big or small, commonly known about or obscure, or what topic interests you and what you like to ponder; learn something new on a regular basis.

It’s good for your brain, good for your spirits, and you might even meet more kindred spirits like yourself along the way.

Try Something New to Eat

Everybody needs to eat, and most people also love food.

It’s a big world out there, with a plethora of different cuisines, styles, and dishes to try.

A great many HSS/HSP’s enjoy a variety of food cuisines (if they live somewhere where variety is available). They enjoy the self-care aspect of food, and the caring aspect of preparing food for others. They also enjoy the variety of delicious flavor and food textures available to try.

See if you can find a cuisine or dish out there you haven’t tried – maybe one you’ve always wanted to, or maybe one you’ve never heard of. If you’re really feeing adventurous, maybe you could even learn how to also make it.

Play a Sport With Friends, and/or Kindred Spirits

To the extent you’re able, physical activity is good for a lot of what ails us. Playing sports – like playing other games – also gives a great opportunity for playful competition and challenge, yet also bonding and fun.

Find a Group That’s for People Like You

Need to make more friends? Certainly, as we get older in life, that can get more challenging – but it’s not impossible. One critical step is to find the right kind of people for you.

Use sites like Meetup to find people who will bring your energy levels up, rather than drain you. You can search for local HSP groups, or HSS/HSP groups if there are any in your area. You can also search by interests, and anything else that seems right for you.

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Thank you, dear readers, for reading, following, and sharing. Here’s to HSS/HSP’s having a great time. If you enjoyed this and want to see more like it, please hit “like” and subscribe, if you have not already.

Check out my other blog, too – Free Range Life, at https://freerangelife.net. It’s about road trips to parks and other cool places to see, how wealth is built – and how policy shapes opportunities to build wealth, remote/passive income streams, and van/RV life.

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