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Empowering Sensitive Kids: Beyond The Sporty Narrative

Child is feeling discouraged as he puts his face into his palms on the sports field.

A Consequence Of Social Constructs

“I played soccer growing up”: the lie I told my husband when I first met him 17 years ago. Lol. He didn’t even ask, but I was so used to meeting new people and the question of, “What sport do you play?”, following shortly after – with an expectation that participating in an activity is a life requirement, as if just being isn’t enough. Of course I understand this is a general question asked to get to know someone’s interests, but after years of feeling dangerously low self-worth in any sort of group activity – leaving me utterly confused what my own hobbies were (did I even have any?), this started to become a trigger. So to block that trigger from popping up, I confidently told him that I played soccer growing up. Lol again. But how sad that I felt this added value or worth to my existence – and why would I feel that way? Playing a sport at a young age became socially constructed with respect and pride. So the absence of a sport resulted in an absence of respect and pride – for reference, please review any 90’s rom-com (or possibly ponder your own experiences?). Note: when I ended up confessing to my husband that I lied about ever playing soccer, he had no memory of me telling him in the first place.

The Orchid And The Dandelion

This ties into my previous blog on how society glamourizes stepping out of your comfort zone as if it’s the only way to experience growth. For highly sensitive kids, being put on the spot (eg. taking turns in dance class to perform, receiving criticism from a harsh teacher, or being called on to play goalie, etc) is not just uncomfortable, it is extremely jarring (from my own recollection, the feeling I got could be described as threatening or petrifying). This is interesting to me since sports are intended to boost health and socialization, while in reality they can cause mental health to deteriorate and make a lot of people want to crawl into a hole. Some may argue that this pain and suffering is a part of learning and growing up. I personally think that’s an extremely dated view, and out of all elements of life, the activities that we choose to invest in, should provide a sense of fulfillment and joy. There are many studies that prove when highly sensitive children are in the right environments and raised by nurturing parents and teachers, they prosper. “The Orchid And The Dandelion” (2019) by W. Thomas Boyce, MD, comes to mind here. Boyce spent almost 40 years researching the human stress response in children and observed that the majority of children tend to be like dandelions; able to thrive in various environments, unphased by diverse stimuli, and able to cope with challenges. And, that a minority of children, which he compares to the orchid flower, are more biologically sensitive to environmental and social stimuli, making it harder for them to thrive in a variety of environments, but once they establish the right one – they flourish. It’s important to note that Boyce’s findings show: “a highly sensitive child whose teacher is authoritarian and cold, who praises only those who fit within a narrow framework of expectations, is more likely to experience depression and other problems impacting their mental and physical health and academic success as years go by.”

The Mental vs. Physical

I’m beginning to realize the parallels of playing a sport and being a highly sensitive person. Skillfully learning a sport requires as much practice as mindfully navigating sensitivity. Some moments you lose; others you win. Just as players on the field call for and offer physical support to their teammates, HSPs have extraordinary abilities to provide emotional support to their network. At the end of the day, both realms require rest and are exhausting and rewarding all at once! My overwhelm of group activities used to make me feel isolated, but today I choose to honour my sensitivity as my sport, instead of feeling inadequate for not excelling in athletics.

You’re Allowed To Live Differently

To this day (and very much so in west coast culture), there is a social standard to play a sport, if not multiple, starting at an extremely young age. Parents are filling up calendars with extracurricular activities faster than ever before – and that can be wonderful, for a lot of parents and children – but it’s okay if this lifestyle doesn’t work for certain families. Not only that, but it’s entirely possible for families to prioritize routines, physical health, getting outdoors, and teamwork, without misaligned group activities. As a mom, I go forward without imposing preconceived feelings onto my children, but with mindfulness in each unique situation. I follow the lead of my children when it comes to activities, encouraging their interest and supporting any signs of distrust. I have no problem removing them (dare I say, “quitting“) after trying out a class or two if it doesn’t feel right for them. With open communication and fostering self-expression in our children, a strong sense of self-worth can develop as they go on to develop their own interests. It’s that sense of self-worth that becomes key to adapting, and even thriving in more fast-paced or higher-pressure environments. And the younger we can cultivate that sense of inner-worth, the better.

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Announcing Book Two: “Pop Out Loud, First Day of Soccer”

I feel so privileged to pour my heart into the second book of my series!

As soon as I started self-publishing my first book, “Pop Out Loud, First Day of School“, I imagined a full series where my main character, Jimmy the kernel, would be popping his way through different experiences, with deep emotions. After my book launch in October 2024, I had no idea when my next book would come out, or even how to determine when to get started on it.

If you’ve been following my journey, you’ll know that the book launch was quite overwhelming for me. There was a brief period where I couldn’t escape that overwhelm, and then I remembered I can just be in my feelings (it’s funny how we are so quick to forget). So I didn’t force them away, and as I thought about book two, I let go of all timelines. I would think: maybe two years from now will be the right time, but there is no need decide in this moment. Then, one random day toward the end of November, I intuitively had another urge to put pen to paper. It felt right, not daunting, and as I struggled to find a balance between mom-life and author-life, the momentum began to pick up.

Due out later this year(!), my illustrator and book designer, Aline Monjardim, and I have been collaborating on “Pop Out Loud, First Day of Soccer” since December 17th, 2024! We have had two meetings so far; the first where we reviewed the manuscript then broke down logistics, planning, cost and expectations, and the second where we went through the story page by page, conceptualizing the illustrations in depth. Since then, Aline has sketched and coloured a new main character (stay tuned to meet him!). This time, I will be self-publishing my book without help from an agency, on my own with Aline. I look so forward to sharing the new challenges with you as well as what I am doing differently this time in regards to the book and the launch.

All along, I had a theme in my head for this second book, with an entire thought-out storyline. However, as I watched my kindergartener and his peers begin to navigate new, slightly more structured, school-aged extracurricular activities, it became clear that sports or group activities and sensitivity don’t always go hand in hand, and that this story to be the next book. Also, to my delight there were more than a handful of parents asking if I was planning to write another book, and more than a few of them offered up “Sports” as the suggestion for the theme. I was a little sad I didn’t get to use my original second storyline, because it’s packed with vibrant emotion and colour, however it makes me all the more excited for book three!

“First Day of Soccer“. Why?

As a highly sensitive child, the introduction of team sports at a young age was so overwhelming that it destroyed my sense of self-worth. Yes, that was in the 90’s, where in P.E, kick-balls were allowed to be directed at bodies and faces, and established teams of first-graders debating (whispers and pointing included) for ten minutes between the two remaining least athletic/introverted classmates was the norm. Though times have changed, as I witness sensitive children today step into their first extra-curricular activities, filled with new environments, boisterous peers and fast paced direction, it is clear that this can still be a challenging experience.

The first memory I have of a consistent decline in mental health is centred around moments like this (the irony, as sports are intended to improve health). I wrote this book because beginning a new activity – something that is socially decorated by society with excitement and pride – can be packed full of a range of emotion, and that is SO normal; sensitive children are not alone in these deeply overwhelming experiences. I believe those big feelings that come with big transitions do not have to define our days or our worth – and kindness to one’s self goes a long way. With authentic expression and open communication, a strong sense of self-love can be fostered at a young age. In turn, this can allow children to have more fun as they dabble in new things. Lets go Jimmy!⚽💕🍿

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Pre-Book Launch Feels

In July, I committed unnervingly, to in-person book launch events. I spent the month of August almost paralyzed, sitting in pure discomfort that I had done so. Come September, I watched my child gracefully handle the rocky transition to kindergarten and coexist with nerves daily, all while never holding back from his authentic self expression. I told him I needed help and asked him, how do you do something that makes you feel SO nervous? His response: “Well…just go for it”. I took a quick moment to grieve predictable, stable, quiet days and chose to embrace the book launch and the emotional extension of it. I became mindful of slowing down my actions and thoughts. And anytime I backtracked, I quickly made the conscious choice to choose again. And again. (This is the essence of the Choose Again Method by Dr. Joe Dispenza, and the foundation behind rewiring your brain).

Due to those big feels, I was a little behind on the logistical to-dos of the book launch weekend + online launch day. Managing this while organizing a 5th birthday party, working on a website (with a lot of help from the best in the biz!), and entering the era of elementary school for the first time, truly broke me down as a highly sensitive human. I think once motherhood begins – there is no answer to a balanced life, and when you’re in the thick of a heightened ebb, the flow is simply far out of reach until it’s not. I started thinking back to all of the HSP-specific tools I acquired from self-development, I began to let go, and very quickly an abundance of intuitive signs started showing up in my life. This allowed me to remember not only am I on the right path, but the human experience is meant to be so much more than peaceful. Yes, it’s okay to be uncomfortable. Yes, the level of discomfort that HSPs experience is intensified. But thanks to my experiences birthing humans and the electrifying newborn phase, I found the ability to trust in this being a passing season and not an eternal fate.

At the end of September, the mental hurdles I had of showing up to book launches were (almost) fully replaced with logistical hurdles. I think this was a good lesson in showing me it was not necessary for those (monster-sized) original nerves to occupy so much space. With one week to go, I sent out books to influencers, got slapped in the face with unexpected shipping logistics (burst into tears at the front counter…POP!), attempted to understand the backend of Amazon and Ingram Sparks(🥵) , tested out my Shopify shop, made multiple last minute price adjustments, hustled to meet signage-printer deadlines, wrote newsletters, blogs, (tried to be a mom *hello mom-guilt*!), and somewhat casually waited on a shipment of hundreds of hardcover copies that was 10 days late and unable to be located (though I did have a few copies on hand). The quality of these copies in that shipment is exquisite and – selling and promoting those would best support me directly – so I was SO hopeful that they’d show up. And they did! With four days to spare.

In the few moments of spare time I had, I would wonder…Is this the time or the place for a book launch about emotional snacks? The world is burning. As an HSP, global tragedies used to debilitate me in a pit of despair and keep me from functioning in my own life. But the answer to my own question was always yes. Not only does the world need more softness and sensitivity, I know now that I am able to consciously and effectively do my part when I lead with my heart.

In sum: this launch lead-up was very cool, exciting, and far more draining than I could have imagined.

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HSP Serendipity

Highly Sensitive Person, Career Related Blog.




I experienced my last “rock bottom” surrounding that lack of career-focused purpose in 2015. I felt fully stagnant – I had no where to direct the extreme passion or creative energy that was about to implode within. That night, my husband appeared with a whiteboard and marker in his hands and told me it was time to let go of all external beliefs, all societal pressures, and go after whatever it was that I wanted.

During that night with the whiteboard, we brainstormed what I loved was obsessed with (at age 25) with no judgement:

• popcorn

• cats

• Walt Disney’s imaginative creativity

It was so simple (too simple?), and a little anti-climatic, but I rolled with it. These all happened to be things that consumed my life as a child, as my best friend growing up was my black cat Larry; I was always stealing my sister’s popcorn on family movie night (where we’d watch a Disney movie 95% of the time); and I was always engrossed in my own imagination, journaling my emotions or producing stories and songs on little construction paper booklets.

On that fateful whiteboard night, my first small business – a handcrafted popcorn(✔️) company – The Popcorn Bar, was born. I truly believe the depths of my soul was meant for entrepreneurship all along – as many highly sensitive people are – due to the level of passion and self-motivation HSP’s exude when they are in an environment that is both supportive and meaningful. But at this time I was not quite ready. Though this company I created attracted a great deal of positive interest in a fairly short time, the universe wanted to equip me with some very specific tools and lessons before launching me into the world as a heart-driven business woman. As my heart was not madly passionate about running a food based company (the creativity behind the marketing was my favourite part of all), I quite literally stumbled upon a job posting at meowbox – an ecommerce start-up (turned success story) – a subscription box for cats. Check✔️. The founder was so excited about my Popcorn Bar stint, a major factor in hiring me. There, I learned a wealth of knowledge on running and scaling a business, social media marketing, customer service, event planning, creative writing, website building, product management, working directly with cat toy designers (oddly, so many similarities to working with an illustrator), shipping and logistics, sourcing materials, and writing personalized messages with jiffy markers (not unlike the book signings I just did). I finally felt comfortable enough to get curious and really learn. This experience was crucial to finding my footing as a self published children’s book author. For the first time, I was not just able to show up for work – I was in love with my job! I thought I would work there for the rest of my life.

As I’ve said many times before, becoming a mother will change you…and, is what inspired me to go all in on my imagination (✔️). However, the fact that I decided to leave my beloved job – after everything I had been through to get there – and, when life was flowing at a great pace, seemed to make that move so much more powerful. You don’t have to wait for things to get bad to go after something better. I seemingly had it all, and decided to go for more – and now I know why: when your heart soars, you elevate the ability to give back to your loved ones, your community, and yourself.

There is no way I would currently be a published author if I had suppressed my big feelings. Finally feeling free in authentic expression and creation elevated my self worth and quickly drew in success on multiple levels. Looking back, there were many little “winks” or synchronicities along the way, and each deep struggle and emotional reaction seemed to be guiding me on a very specific, resourceful, path that feels tailored to my heart.

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The Truth That Would Have Stopped Me

Jimmy the popcorn is scratching his head with overwhelm.

I wouldn’t have become an author if I had only known sooner.


It’s no secret that in the past I struggled deeply with the sense (or lack of) career driven purpose. I decided to become a children’s book author because for the first time, I was ready to honour that inner pull toward imagination and writing, and I thought this would be the most fitting job for the creative, introverted, highly sensitive parts of me.

But I didn’t realize one major component of becoming an author: the comfort zone I once knew was about to pop faster than a kernel. Ever since plunging into self development and learning about rewiring the brain, I have subconsciously constructed a big vision that is now earnestly rooted in me. That vision includes walking through nerves. Reframing failure. Connecting with others who have trekked a similar path (one of my favourite feeling). Spreading a message to help others. Connecting with others who can help me spread that message even further. Showing up with passion every day (one of my favourite parts as an HSP).

I was working with an intuitive healer about a year ago who told me, “The only thing stopping this from becoming a major success, is you”. I didn’t fully understand what he meant, because after finally arriving into a space of mental stability, I thought I would never get in my own way! My way, for the first time, felt safe and cozy. Why would I choose to mess with that after everything I had been through!? But now, with the book launch fast approaching, I get it. One year ago, I had zero plans to show up for any in-person launches, signings and ESPECIALLY NOT READINGS. But, Sarita 2.0 had other plans. And if you had told me that I would be in fact going in public, to a bookstore, to show my face, with the potential of zero people showing up/with the potential of 30 people showing up, to sign books and read my story in front of children(!) and their parents…I would have stopped in my tracks and quit on the spot.

I have been unaware of the depth of my vision and how much the daily practices of self-love and self-development were actually working. And I’m so glad I was unaware. Because letting myself stop me from being where I am now, and from what’s to come, would be a genuine tragedy. Today, I choose to take action that aligns with my vision, and – I am genuinely excited to be planning a weekend of *in-person* launches to celebrate the story, the art, and the message that is “Pop Out Loud, First Day of School” – this book deserves it!

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