“I always wondered too much, thought too much, felt too much, craved too much. And I always kept it all to myself. I was disconnected from my peers. Things hurt more, mattered more…I take every single person seriously and I do all I can to never hurt them. Friends found me either silly or too serious or annoying…”
Carolina, 21, and Camila, 18, are Brazilians. They have rainforest minds. They are extremely sensitive, intuitive, socially responsible, perfectionistic, emotional, passionate learners, and highly intelligent.
“I used to freak out every now and then because I just thought I was not normal but I also didn’t want to be like other people. It was so frustrating and it used to drive me crazy, I always thought ‘what am I doing here if there’s no one like me? when am I actually going to say what I think? when will I find somebody like me, to understand me?’…”
“l’ve always complained too much about the clothes I wear, I don’t like labels, embroidery, or any shirt not made of cotton. I’ve always hated loud sounds and sneeze when perfume is strong. Screaming, fighting, someone crying, and criticism: I am very reactive to all of this… I trust my intuition a lot. I feel like I can read people, what they are feeling or needing, or what the chances are of something going wrong with my decision… I am always reading. I learn fast. People like to ask me for help…When I don’t understand something new or when something is difficult to do, I usually get paralyzed…I’m afraid I won’t succeed, and if I’m not the best, I’m not smart…”
Barbara Kerr has studied gifted girls for over forty years. At the end of her most recent book, she includes suggestions for parents, educators, and for the gifted girls and women themselves. She writes:
“…Once or twice in a lifetime, you will meet that smart little girl who seems wise beyond her years, who ponders the great philosophical questions, and who seeks knowledge not only in books but through her dreams and visions. She is the spiritually intelligent smart girl, who may transform our society with her transcendent vision. Find all those girls and then nurture them…”
We found two in Brazil.
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To my bloggEEs: Do you relate to what Carolina and Camila are saying? What is it like where you live? If you want to know more specifically about gifted girls, Barbara Kerr’s research is a wonderful resource. And fellas, I haven’t forgotten about you! Remember this post? Thank you all for being here. Much love to you. (And thank you so much to Carolina and Camila for sharing your stories with us.)
October 13, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Paula, thank you so much for this! I feel good knowing that telling my story I can help others hg/RM to find peace with themselves. It is not easy to be like this, at least for me, like I said, it used to drive me crazy sometimes. Being different does that, but you know what it also does? Wonderful things. So many of them, and things that only a few people will experience in life. True connection. Pure intentions. Pure love, and a deep one, and in every little thing that we aprecciate. And the video from Joelle’s, it’s a great connection too, I’m sure this post is very important indeed. The work from Barbara Kerr… wow. This quote is marvelous, I’ll search for her books definetely! Thank you again, sending love
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October 13, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Thank YOU so much, Carolina! Sending love back to you. ❤
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October 13, 2020 at 5:55 pm
💙
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October 13, 2020 at 5:09 pm
Gifted girls change the world. ❤️
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October 13, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Indeed.
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October 13, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Oh thank you! 💙
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October 13, 2020 at 5:32 pm
Hi Carolina. I may have deleted another comment of yours by mistake. If I did, please send again! 🙂
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October 13, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Okay, I think it’s the one that I answered hearting u back hehe ><
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October 14, 2020 at 3:56 am
Hi Paula, I am a Brazilian rain-forest-minded adult. I have been identified so at the age of 48, I graduated in Psychology and now I dedicate my career to mentoring and coaching others like us (young adults, adults and seniors). I also help families, teachers, lawyers, any kind of professional who deals with giftedness issues. I would love to belong to your network to join forces. I am looking for an online master’s programme to expand scientific production about adults and elders. adriana.italia@gmail.com my whatsapp is +55 19 99175-9893
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October 14, 2020 at 8:48 am
It sounds like you are a great resource for gifted Brazilians and others, Adriana! Thank you for sharing your contact information.
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October 14, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Hey Adriana, I just want to say congrats, it’s a really good thing when we figure out who and what we are. I may say that I think it needed a lot of strenght to keep going with all the things that our incredible fast and nonstoping minds use to put us through since you only identified as RM at 48yrs old. I admire your courage and determination to raise awareness about it to help others. I guess we can all make little changes to help other people like us. I wish u all the best in life and in your great professional carreer! Sending love from Brazil too 💙
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October 14, 2020 at 4:41 am
Hi, Paula! This post really resonates with me. I have similar struggles with clothing tags, strong scents (especially the “masculine” ones), and texture of things like food or fabrics. I’ve always been seen as the wise, “adult-like” kid who spends hours in the library. Friends and teachers usually trust me with unusual things like keeping a secret, giving advice on a serious matter or representing the class. Perfectionism, fear of failure (to the point that I can’t start anything new) and procrastination are a problem too. Sometimes it can be definitly overwhelming, but I’m learning to breath slowly and take my time doing things. The quote from Kerr is such a heartwarming one!
Much love from Brazil ❤
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October 14, 2020 at 8:50 am
Looks like we have a lovely Brazilian contingent! Thanks Ana Julia. Good to hear from you.
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October 14, 2020 at 4:35 pm
I am happy with your comment, Ana Júlia. I’m happy it was a way of identification. I identify with all you said, absolutely all of it! It’s incredible. And yeah, I tend to think that we are always drifting between extremes, trying to find balance, so yeah, sometimes it’s all procrastination and then other times it’s all about being on crazy productiveness. It’s a thing that I learned to get better with time, because before I couldn’t find a way to have a more healthy routine since I was drived from my mind to the most difficult and existencial questions through the night, and it includes the question “why I am and feel so different from everyone?”. So I’m happy that u are learning to manage it, I think that Kerr’s quote is truly inpiring to that. We all will find our way! Sending good energy from Brasil too ☽
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October 15, 2020 at 2:35 pm
Hi! I’m glad that I am not alone in all of this. Finding balance is hard, but recognizing that what I was doing was not healthy already helped me to manage things a little bit better. And I definitly remember asking myself endlessly why I could never feel welcomed by my schoolmates and what made me so different from them. I am happy for you, too! We will be just fine.
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October 18, 2020 at 5:38 pm
You’re surely not alone, Ana Júlia! I used to think that too, mainly when I didn’t know about giftedness, but yeah, we are not alone, and that’s really really comforting. Well, I think I know exactly what you talking about, I used to sleep so late, couldn’t do it early because my mind was always full with questions and worryings or I had so many feelings then I used to escape focusing on things that I like, as watching films and series and reading books until I could go to sleep. About the schoolmates, same here! I was and am still, so different from them. (I do university, by the way that’s the reason I took these days to respond you, I really wanted to do it sooner but I couldn’t, everytime that I came here and started writing an reply my time ended, because I had such a demand this week, really, so many things that I only stopped to eat and sleep, and I wanted to take a time to respond you well). And thank you so much, yeah we’ll be just fine!!
Hope you are well, sending good vibes!
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October 19, 2020 at 3:39 am
It’s ok! High school is also demanding a lot now, don’t worry about replying fast. I’ve always been an early sleeper, so taking my time to relax and understand everything that had happend on the day was not that bad. I hope that you’re doing better now! Sending you good vibes too. Good luck with uni! ❤
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October 19, 2020 at 7:40 am
Thanks! Oh that’s good, now I see just how much, i’m definetely doing better now, having a routine with the right hours to do things is the best thing we can do to both our bodies and overworking minds! Thanks, it’s the final journey now to graduation and is working out! 💙
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January 17, 2021 at 5:37 pm
Hey Ana Júlia! Listen, I finally made my blog. I found it to be a place where I can share my expression through photo and texts, wich I never really could do on social media since the stuff I wanna put out in the world are really important and meaningful to me, and now in the highly gifted community I feel that I can. I made the first post today, and will keep working on the site soon, so if you want to get to know it, it would be interesting to have rfm friends from Brazil there. Hope you are well 🌟
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January 17, 2021 at 5:41 pm
Hi Carolina. Do you want to put the link to your blog here?
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January 17, 2021 at 5:48 pm
I was going to write to you right now haha, as always I forget to say something in the comment, it’s the enthusiasm omg
I sent a new comment with the link now, if that’s okay to you, I would really love to post it in the comment yes ^^ and thanks for the help you gave me with finding this new world of giftedness.
This blog that I made is an initiative of finding a space of expression and connection with rfm / hg friends out there 🌟
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January 17, 2021 at 5:41 pm
Oh sorry I didn’t gave the instructions. By clicking on my name here on the comment you’ll be redirected to the blog, and my post is in “wonders”, or just click in this link https://avalonswonderland.wordpress.com
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October 15, 2020 at 10:49 am
Hey, Ana
It’s good to know that there are more people who share your unusual sensitivity, and also about perfectionism, fears …
But as you said, it is for our time that we learn how to deal with our particularities.
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October 15, 2020 at 2:42 pm
You’re right! It is always good to know that people who are just like us exist somewhere! Sending much love to all of us.
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October 14, 2020 at 10:12 pm
Another Brazilian gifted lady here! Happy for you Carolina and Camila, that found out so early, that will definitely help going forward! I only identified as one when I turned 40, so now that I finished reading all the books that I could grab on the topic I am slowly trying to heal my wounds and figuring out how to go from here! Much love to you.
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October 14, 2020 at 10:18 pm
It seems that after Covid you Brazilians ought to have a RFM party! Thank you, Elaine. ❤
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October 15, 2020 at 11:02 am
Hi, Elaine
Thank you ❤
I imagine the difficulties you suffered from spending years with unanswered questions. I am lucky to know what I am and how I am so soon, but we are gifted and, even though it is complicated, it is a privilege to have such abilities. I hope that now you can heal your wounds, and that we know how to enjoy our gifts.
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October 18, 2020 at 5:43 pm
Yay! Sorry for answering this late, I am having difficulty managing time while doing my final paper to university, it’s been crazy!
Thank you! Omg yeah, that helps so so much, it’s everything!! You must have suffered so much more with the wonderings and thoughts all this time, I can imagine just how much, but I am so happy that you figured it out, really really happy for you! Sending a hug, wish you all the happiness and light in life 💙 and ow thanks, sending love too!!
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October 15, 2020 at 2:46 am
I had never seen this video by Joelle… and had never heard of this gender development thing. Never thought of any connection with giftedness, thinking about my weird boyish playing habits – either climbing in trees, running around like cowboys-and-indians (always being the indian of course), or racing with toy cars – or, my lack of urge to ever dress up like a girl. No skirts or dresses for me, just a whole in the knee instead. Interesting… 🤔
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October 15, 2020 at 2:47 am
A *hole* that is, obviously… 😁
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October 15, 2020 at 2:10 pm
Hm…I don’t remember that part in the video, veroniqz. Will have to watch it again. Thanks for sharing.
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October 18, 2020 at 5:53 pm
This part from the video got me so indentified, same here. I only like comfy clothes, I don’t care about what is seen as “feminine” or “masculine” according to society, so any cloths that I like and feel good using I use, it’s funny sometimes cause some people come to me and say “oh this is so in fashion right now” and I’m like “really?” I never know and never care too. It’s good to find more people to identify with. Are you brazilian too?
Sending good energy!
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October 18, 2020 at 10:49 pm
No, I’m Dutch… Especially when it comes to toys, I don’t think I ever owned a doll, just animals and cars and building blocks and stuff. And like you, I looove unfeminine comfy clothes…
Good vibes back!
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October 19, 2020 at 8:35 am
I’ve had dolls, but the ones that I keep till these days are my stuffed animals, cards, building blocks too and games and stuff like that. And yeah welcome to the comfy clothes club! And hey, I think you’ll like even more Joelle’s channel, she’s dutch too and her videos are great ^^
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October 15, 2020 at 10:54 am
Hi Paula, I enjoyed the young girls presentation. Good job on your part to create this approachable way to spread the message. 😊
Sent from my iPhone
>
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October 15, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Thank you, Joyce. Nice to see you here.
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October 18, 2020 at 5:46 pm
I’m happy that you liked, and Paula writes so well right? The post came out beautifully 💙
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October 18, 2020 at 6:51 pm
I’m glad you liked it, Carolina. Thanks for all of your thoughtful comments!
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October 19, 2020 at 5:42 am
love it here 💙
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December 27, 2020 at 11:27 am
I relate to what they say! Sometimes I wonder if I trust my intuition enough. Working on it, though. Thank you!
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December 27, 2020 at 1:05 pm
It’s worth working on, Alice, for sure.
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January 16, 2021 at 9:51 pm
Happy to hear that! And yes, trust your intuition, it’s the best way really 🌟
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