Experiencing little things... maybe too much?

I don't even know how to call this personality trait I have and if it has a specific name at all. I'll try to explain it as precisely as I can. It would be great to hear from you if it is familiar to you and what do you do with it.

At first, to give some context to the story, I'm an introvert but also internally very emotional, sentimental and melancholic. I've been this way since childhood.

So, I've noticed that I like to find emotional comfort or on the contrary - emotional excitement - in experiencing little everyday things in a way that other grown-ups (especially men) might find childish or amusing.

I learned to control myself and do "my thing" discretely to avoid weird looks, but still sometimes I forget that someone is nearby and then I have to explain what and why I'm doing. Usually I try to make fun of it but still I haven't met much people who understand what's going on.

It might be something similar to fidgeting when you are nervous, but it's not exactly that. Fidgeting is usually about the activity, but "my thing" is about sensory input that immediately causes some emotions or memories.

Some examples.
I like smelling things again and again. Even those that smell awful. I just like experience of the smell itself. The same goes for touching - I like the touch of a soft cloth, I like the touch of a rough concrete. The same goes for tastes.

When I listen to the music, I often find that the song itself is boring, cliche and not worth listening... but there is a chord progression that triggers something in me - maybe something that the author of the song didn't intend at all - and I want to listen to this chord progression again and again.

At the same time, these experiences haven't turned me into an artist or a gourmet. On the contrary - I am not good at categorizing things in beautiful and ugly, tasty and disgusting. However, there are some foods that I don't want to actually eat because I don't like their taste. Although even I have nothing against to putting them on my tongue just to experience the taste for a second or two. Of course, I'm careful enough to avoid doing something dangerous (for example, tasting superglue or brushing my fingers against very sharp objects), but still even if some experience brings me bad emotions and painful memories, I cannot stop myself from touching/tasting/listening to it.

But, as I'm an introvert, I don't like touching people because I find it difficult to detect the clues when it's ok to touch somebody. So I always wait for someone to hug me first and then I hug them back. But still I like experiencing things better than people - it just feels more safe.

What do you think about this? Is this too childish for an almost 40 year old man? Can anybody relate to this story?

Thanks for reading and have a nice day!

Do you see a therapist? It sounds like something that you might work on (if you want to, of course).

No, I haven't yet had a chance to talk about with a professional. I think I have full control over it and it hasn't turned into some obsession or something that causes any discomfort. For now, I find it just amusing and sometimes I wonder why other people around me seem to be so ignorant about "this nice chord progression" or "this magnetic smell". Maybe that's some way my subconscious tries to compensate for my introverted nature - being not very open to people and anything that might surprise me and at the same time exploring, wanting to have deep connections with everything.

wow. just read this. somehow you have learned to do what treatment providers now try and teach all their clients.....

how to be grounded and mindful of whats around them and whats in their life. i have dissociative disorders and it took me years of learning how to stop and smell the flowers and enjoy the experience, how touching things feels and can bring a person enjoyment even if its just a piece of cloth, or other textures.

my point I dont find this weird at all. you are actually doing on your own what mental health treatment providers teach for just about every mental disorder healing treatment plans. great job. you are doing amazing work.