tenderness is mighty

unmasking + understanding sensitivity

watercolor by me

I was 3 years old when I realized I might be more sensitive than your average bear. That summer, my mom took me to see The Muppet Movie when it was released in theaters. I felt a lump in my little throat when Gonzo sang I'm going to go back there someday. The lyrics touched a larger, deeper knowing in my heart, even at such a young age. There’s a moment in the movie just after the song when Kermit walks away from his friends on a dark soundstage. I burst into full-on sobs. I remember feeling like Kermit was alone — in his thoughts, the world, his green skin. I didn’t have the words then to explain my feelings to my mom, but I had plenty of tears. This is among my first actual memories as seen through my own eyes, not through photos or stories told of me.