I used to feel like I had to be serious to be taken seriously.

I got yelled at this week. I was volunteering, trying to help someone, and I made a mistaken assumption about what they actually needed. My good intentions could have caused more harm.

I recently received terrible customer service from someone in a membership role. Somehow in 60 seconds, it felt personal, and I was activated. I left angry instead of staying and escalating. I chose flight, not fight, fawn, or freeze.

I was on a sales call this week for a company with many client-facing employees. And I felt a jolt of excitement from the possibility of "covert inclusion." That's my favorite kind of work.

A friend invited me to a small group discussion in his home. Six or seven of us. I knew him, not much else about what to expect.