MY DIAMONDS - make me happy more than anything in the world!

 

Since a couple of years I am "collecting" DIAMONDS.

My diamonds are situations in which my heart is almost aching because of the amount of pure joy and happiness!

For example:
A friend and me were on a extremely crowded bus on a Saturday night once. I had to get off the bus long before the crowd would leave in Paceville, Malta´s party zone. So I prepared myself mentally to squeeze myself through the crowd to reach the exit.

I have to say I was very stressed at that moment. 
Why?
A Highly Sensitive Person and a crowd of people in a stressful situation NEVER goes together well!

So before the bus approached my stop I started to work my way through a lot of strong smelling, very excited, loud chatting, young party people.
Certainly I was stepping on a few toes and I also rammed my elbow into a poor party goer more than once.
"I am sorry!"
"Excuse me please!"

In that particular bus the entrance was also the exit. So I had to move back to the front part of the bus to get off. I already managed to make my way along the rows of seats but then I faced three problems at once:
1. no seats anymore but an open area in front of me 
2. and therefore no chance to hold on to something
3. a group of young Italians with their backs toward me who didn´t see me coming 

My stress levels increased by every second.

But all of a sudden one of the young Italian men saw me coming and immediately told his friends to move back. Those who didn´t listen, he simply shove aside for me. 
That made me very happy already and my heart went out to that thoughtful young man!
Though in the next moment the stress was back as I realized I couldn´t take one step further in the driving bus because there was nothing to hold on to anymore.
Now, the good thing is that I express my feelings really, really openly. Pretty everyone can read in my expression like in an open book.
And that was what the young man did. He saw me looking out stressed for any possibility to hold on to while I keep on moving toward the exit.
And here is what he did ...
He offered me his open hand - I grabbed it with a huge sigh and a touched "Ooohhhhhh" - we smiled at each other - he strongly hold on to my hand while I safely was guided to the next pole to hold on to. 
"Thank you so much!", did I grin at him before I left the bus.
This grin stayed on my face till I reached home that night and it returns whenever I think of that fleeting encounter!

That was an example of one of my DIAMONDS.

Now there is another one:
I was very new in Malta and I was up to spend a day at the beach. On the way to the beach, after I went off the bus and passed a small vegetable shop in a side street, I decided I want to buy some fresh fruits. 
Now here is another thing about us Highly Sensitive People:
We do not feel very comfortable to step into new shops. There are irrational thoughts like: maybe only residents are shopping here and we tourists / expats are not welcome. 
But I had to overcome those thoughts at certain points in my life, right?
So I stepped in and greeted the shop keeper with a bright smile. He didn´t appear unfriendly, though I also couldn´t make out his mood in general. That´s why I focused on my shopping to get it over with.
I picked some bananas and peaches. Also the grapes looked very tempting, I took some.
The shop keeper put each of the fruits on the scales and tipped the prize into the cash register. When he came to the grapes he looked at me:
"Do you want me to rinse them for you?"

I was so perplexed, no word came out of my mouth. I looked at him with huge eyes. HOW SWEET!! He assumed me going straight to the beach and so he offered to rinse the grapes for me!! SOOOO CUTE!!

Also an fleeting encounter which made my heart burst with love and joy!
So of course I went back to that small vegetable shop from time to time. Unfortunately it is not around my corner and there are thousands of vegetable and fruit suppliers in the streets of Malta ... but from time to time I am shopping there. Just because I still remember how happy the shop keeper made me at that first time.

Last Saturday it was again time to shop there.
When I entered the shop the shop keeper was listing to a Maltese customer who definitely was ranting on about the actual bad situation. I went around the shop, filled my bags (I always bring my own bags with me instead using single used plastic bags) with tomatoes, zucchini, a cauliflower and avocados. When I approached the box with the grapes, the shop keeper shouted over: "Those are seedless!" in the middle of his conversation with the Maltese. 
I had to suppress a big fat grin. What is it with him, me and grapes? 
I grabbed some seedless grapes, bananas and a piece of leek ... and just went looking in and out of the shop (he also provides things in an open van parked in front of his little shop). 
When the Maltese ranting man left, he rolled his eyes:
"Why is it that people always have to go on and on with negative stuff? Why can´t they be happy for a change?"
My heart opened up to him even more!
When I was done he started to weigh every item as usual and tipped the prize in the cash register.
"Should I cut the green stuff from the cauliflower for you?"
"That would be so great of you, thank you! And can you please cut the leek into half for me so I can pack it more easier?"

I love to shop in that place! Can´t you tell?
 
When we were almost done, I glanced at the chestnuts. I love Maroni! But I never roasted them for myself. 
"A question about the chestnuts. How do I roast them?"
We went to the shelf together where the chestnuts were stored in that beautiful burlap sack. He showed me how to cut a deep cross into the chestnut. 
"Just cut them like that and put them into the oven. They are done when they open up, like a little flower."
"Simple like that? How many degrees?"
"220 degrees."
"Well, thank you! I definitely take some. I have to try it."
I put some of the chestnuts into a bag (which he held up for me) and we went back to the counter. 
"By the way. What are you doing with that beautiful bag once it is empty?" 
"Do you want me to keep it for you?"
"Yes, please! I would love to have it. It is sooo beautiful!"
"Okay, come back next week and it is waiting for you." 
I was so happy again. This shop keeper really makes my day!
"I definitely will. Thank you!"
Again, like I mentioned before: my expressions are to be read like an open book. I was beaming like a child under the Christmas tree.
All of a sudden he went to the shelf, grabbed the burlap sack and poured the chestnuts into a plastic box. 
"No, what are you doing? They look so beautiful in that bag! Don´t change it for me."
He handed me the bag: 
"You know what? You touched my heart. That is why I want to give it to you right away!"

Again I stood there with huge eyes, a "swollen" heart and tears in my eyes.

"Thank you so, so much! That means a lot to me! It is so beautiful!" 

ANOTHER DIAMOND! Another fleeting encounter that means the word to me! More than any material goods you can buy with any money!  

Guess what? I will buy my fruits and vegetable in that small shop in the small side street not around my corner more frequently from now on. 
I guess I found my vegetable and fruit supplier for the future!

What do you think?