Peter Messerschmidt (Denmarkguy)

"Write what you know."

This is one of the few pieces of advice from college creative writing courses I still carry with me. Although I spent some years as a write-to-order technical writer, I am now back to writing only about my interests, passions and topics/fields in which I am a hands-on expert.

The Internet has a proliferation of content, but sadly, not much of it is useful or quality content. I'm trying to do my little part to create information that's actually useful and/or interesting to people... something more than the 768,457th iteration of "Why Cell Phones are Useful."

So, there are certain things I know about (or so people tell me), and those will generally be the subject matter of my Hubs:

► Highly Sensitive People
► Writing, especially for the Internet
► Beach Combing, and particularly sea glass
► Being a one-person business
► Stamp Collecting (aka "Philately")
► Buying and selling (especially!) collectibles on eBay
► Psychology, Metaphysics and Self-Development
► The psychology of personality typing: The Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, Big Five, Human Design and others.

At least I intend to have categories for each of the above headings.

In other news, I'm a 50-ish Danish national living in the Pacific Northwest. Although I still call myself Danish, I have actually lived in the US (30+ years) longer than anywhere else. In September 2006 I left the physical, political and psychic climates of Texas behind and moved to a greener and cooler life in the small historic hamlet of Port Townsend, Washington, where I now live close to the ocean and mountains. I am joyously married to the great Love of my life, whom I have known since my teenage years. I like cats. They moderately tolerate me living in their house. We have a symbiotic relationship that involves hairballs, litter boxes, photography and relaxation.

Interests include understanding highly sensitive people, adult giftedness, Love, human relationships, the enneagram, temperament theory, nonduality, the psychology of marketing and economics, beach combing, reading, writing, collecting stamps, as well as the general weirdness of life. I make ends meet by peddling words, unsolicited advice, friendship, beach trash, rare postage stamps, sea glass, vintage collectibles and other odds'n'ends.

In short, I "play with my hobbies" for a living. I feel blessed to be able to largely play with my pastimes, and am grateful to live a reality that involves making a large part of my living through walking on the beach for many hours, "finding things."

I prefer a fairly simple and largely non-materialistic lifestyle, but I'm not entirely broke, I don't "mooch" off others, and really don't give a rat's hind quarters about "keeping up with the Joneses." I eat red meat, but have never met the Sasquatch. I love autumn leaves, quiet rain, the ocean, mountains, mist, making out and strong coffee. I don't like "group think." In fact, I generally reject it... and often rattle a few mainstream "cages" in the process.

As mentioned before, my (primary) passion-- albeit rarely for money-- is educating and connecting HSPs (Highly Sensitive People) through writing, workshops and facilitating groups. My current "pet project" is a social network for HSPs living in the Pacific Northwest. If you're reading this, and happen to be an HSP in Washington, Oregon or British Columbia, I'd like to extend an invitation for to you to join the Northwest HSP community.

You can also find me on Facebook and on Twitter. Do say "hi," but if you want to friend me, please remember to mention you came from HubPages. To read some of my less formal musings about life as an HSP, please visit the HSP Notes Blog.

Thank you for reading!

20120423

In the Spotlight

The Highly Sensitive Person: An Introduction

Maybe you've heard the term Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, and wondered what it means, and whether it applies to you. There's a lot more to being an HSP than just getting your feelings hurt easily.

In the Spotlight

HSP Topics: The Challenges of the Highly Sensitive Man

Highly sensitive men are often an "invisible" subset of the HSP spectrum. Learn more about the highly sensitive man and the challenges he faces.

In the Spotlight

The Challenge of Friendships as a Highly Sensitive Person

Highly sensitive people often struggle with friendships and relationships. This article explores where the difficulties arise and offers thoughts on how an HSP can form more lasting friendships.

• 
  8
  Self-Acceptance

  HSP Topics: Being a "Deep Thinker" in a Mostly Shallow World

  8 years ago

  Highly Sensitive People often struggle with finding "deep and meaningful" connections to people and ideas. Many find it very challenging to be "deep" in what seems like a "shallow" world.

• 
  3
  Emotions

  HSP Living: Understanding Overstimulation in the Highly Sensitive Person

  8 years ago

  "Overstimulation" is one of the most common terms used by HSPs. What what does that really MEAN? And how does it manifest? There are lots of possibilities-- here are some of the more significant ones.

• 
  4
  patientslounge.com

  My HSP Life: Overstimulation From the Simple Things

  2 years ago

  Sometimes a Highly Sensitive Person gets overstimulated by even simple and small things. Here are a few examples—as well as some tips to deal with this challenge.

• 
  4
  Happiness

  HSP Living: The Highly Sensitive Person and the Healing Power of Nature

  8 years ago

  Highly Sensitive People often feel a strong connection to nature, and many find peaceful solitude outdoors. Nature has a very healing effect on an HSP, so it is important to actively seek it out.

• 
  9
  remedygrove.com

  HSP Living: Intense Feelings and Learning to Respond Instead of React

  2 years ago

  When you're a Highly Sensitive Person (or HSP), you tend to experience very strong and deep feelings. Managing those feelings constructively is an important part of a healthy life for HSPs.

• 
  10
  Happiness

  HSP Topics: Work & the Highly Sensitive Person--Identifying Your Calling

  9 years ago

  Work life can be a struggle for the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Finding meaningful work is very important to HSPs. This article focuses on ways to identify and pursue your true CALLING in work, whether through self-employment or finding/creating your ideal job.

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  6
  Personal Health Information & Self-Help

  HSP Topics: Work and the Highly Sensitive Person-- Self Employment

  9 years ago

  Work is often a challenge for the Highly Sensitive Person. Finding meaningful work can be difficult, and many HSPs turn to self-employment as the best means to find their true calling. Self-employment may sound daunting to some, but it doesn't HAVE to be difficult.

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  11
  Stress Management

  HSP Living: Tips for Dealing with the Noise and Stress of the Holiday Season

  9 years ago

  Many HSPs find the holiday season between mid-November and the beginning of January particularly stressful to deal with. For those with heightened senses, this can be a very "noisy" time of the year, as well a time of "forced cheer," of dealing with families that have made HSPs feel marginalized,...

• 
  12
  Emotions

  HSP Living: Thoughts on being Highly Sensitive, a People Pleaser and a "Nice" Person

  8 years ago

  Are you a highly sensitive person who has been called "too nice?" Have you ever examined WHY and HOW ? Are you a People Pleaser afraid that others won't like you- if you express your true opinions?

• 
  8
  hobbylark.com

  Stamp Collecting: The History of the World's Greatest Hobby

  23 months ago

  A brief history of how postage stamps came to be, along with an introduction to stamp collecting. After three decades of decline, the hobby is now enjoying a rebirth.

• 
  22
  patientslounge.com

  Finding a Career Match from the Perspective of the Highly Sensitive Person

  2 years ago

  If you are a highly sensitive person (HSP), you may have faced a variety of struggles with work. This article examines some of the challenges and difficulties HSPs face at work and why they exist.

• 
  20
  Mental Health

  HSP Topics: The Challenges of the Highly Sensitive Man

  20 months ago

  Highly sensitive men are often an "invisible" subset of the HSP spectrum. Learn more about the highly sensitive man and the challenges he faces.

• 
  16
  Mental Health

  Highly Sensitive or Highly Touchy? My Perspective

  5 years ago

  Highly Sensitive Persons (or HSPs) make up 15% of the population. Learn about the joys and challenges of living with this trait.

• 
  28
  Mental Health

  So What If You're Highly Sensitive? (Why I Think It Matters)

  5 years ago

  What it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and why it matters to understand as much as possible about this trait.

• 
  43
  patientslounge.com

  The Challenge of Friendships as a Highly Sensitive Person

  19 months ago

  Highly sensitive people often struggle with friendships and relationships. This article explores where the difficulties arise and offers thoughts on how an HSP can form more lasting friendships.

• 
  53
  Mental Health

  The Highly Sensitive Person: An Introduction

  20 months ago

  Maybe you've heard the term Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, and wondered what it means, and whether it applies to you. There's a lot more to being an HSP than just getting your feelings hurt easily.