highly sensitive power

British Officer in the Napoleonic War

Richard Sharpe, as played by Sean Bean in the British TV series based on Bernard Cornwell’s novels, may seem an odd choice for a Successfully Sensitive interview. He is, after all, a soldier and a fictional character. Nevertheless, he embodies many qualities I want to embody.

Through watching the series that begins with Sharpe’s Rifles, I’ve found Richard Sharpe’s influence following me through my daily challenges. If I repeatedly ask myself, “What would Richard Sharpe do?” then I consider him a worthy role model – and fiction, era, gender, and battle-experience differences (or the fact that I imagined this interview) need not get in the way.

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In what way are you most successfully sensitive?

The troubles I’ve landed myself into come from butting heads with authority figures that see morality differently than I do. As soldiers, we agree to fight for King George, so that’s what I do. If someone I’m fighting with or under – or someone who’s fighting under my command – sees fit to go off in a direction that’s dishonourable, I’ll do what I can to stop them and to expose or fix the problem they create. That’s rough when it takes me into a stand-off with a superior officer.

The fact that I came up through the ranks rather than buying my officer’s commission like all the others doesn’t help me in most cases. People are quick to judge me, to assume I barely speak English, when I can read and write and have learned Spanish and French, too. They assume – because of my accent and being rough around the edges – that I’m stupid (and frankly, that’s a handy tool to use against them at times). But you can’t judge character by how a person speaks or how much money they have or what rank they are. You judge people by the values they hold and how they stick to them when their back’s against the wall.

I seem to easily see people’s values and their intent. I suppose, on top of getting me into lots of tight spots, that’s part of what’s gotten me as far along as I’ve come.

What or who has inspired you to embrace your sensitivity?

The fellow who taught me to read and write saw enough in me to think that was a worthwhile thing to spend time on. Coming up from a lad as hard as I did, I’m grateful for the care he took to recognize something worth teaching in me.

Lord Wellington, of course, gave me my first officer’s command, after I saved his life that day, which I did out of instinct more than anything else – the three Frenchies suddenly rode into camp and surprised me as I was washing up. All I could think of was to get between them and Lord Wellington, so I grabbed my weapons and did them in. Since that first leg-up, Lord Wellington’s been good to me. I’m glad he seems to see me for what I am and wants to use me for what I’ve got rather than make me into someone I’m not. It’s hard work, going out on his orders and coming back having done the job well, but there’s never a dull moment.

And my wife, Teresa – she may be the one who most inspired me. She captivated me, body and soul, from the start: a woman leader of the Spanish resistance, a damaged beauty who still found a way to open her heart for me. I learned so much from her about so many things.

What are your eternal fascinations?

Strategy’s an endless source of interest. There’s always a different way to do something, a way around or through a situation to the desired outcome. The biggest challenges, and the most satisfying to get right, are the ones where things seem impossible, but you keep at it, don’t compromise, keep going toward the strategy that allows success on all levels. Endless fascination, that is.

What quest currently captivates you?

Getting back home in one piece. Having something to show for it. Seeing that my men get through, too.

Holding my head up, even when men from my own country, powerful men – much more powerful than I am – are determined to put me down, or do away with me altogether.

What is your favourite kind of help to give?

I seem able to help people steer true, even in times when it seems impossible. I do that naturally and get pleasure from seeing someone go right, as it were. And I’ve got some fire in me, a drive that seems to come right out when the soldiers need to find their courage.

I can’t help but think about the poor folks who don’t have anyone else to help them along – the women being beaten by the men they’re forced into marrying, or the mistreated soldiers (no more than boys) who are so scared they can’t breathe. My heart goes out to them all and I try to help when I can, to get them to safety, even if that means only helping to change the way they think about themselves. Sometimes the smallest effort to help makes a bigger difference than I’d imagined, so I keep trying.

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Bernard Cornwell – His official, authorized website

Wikipedia entry for Bernard Cornwell – Includes historical order of Sharpe books

Wikipedia entry for Sharpe TV Series – Includes episode order

Amazon – Bernard Cornwell’s author page

SharpeFilm – TV Series information

The Mighty Bean – Sean Bean website

Photo: www.southessex.co.uk

Related reading: Successfully Sensitive | Samantha Reynolds, Hero Practice