On 5 Things in 15 Minutes on Monday, I’ll be joined by Veronica Smith (no relation!), who will share some of the results of the Washington State LGBTQ+ survey. Veronica was one of the leads on the project, which was the first of its kind in the country. 

In a year where finding good vibes is harder than ever, I had an embarrassment of riches this week! So many stories to choose from. I’ll save some for next week, but I’m feeling optimistic. 

I recently did an exercise to discover my “why” in life (not just work). In doing so, I learned that our sense of purpose often comes from our unmet needs from childhood. I was a pretty lonely kid. My “why” is to help people have more authentic, playful experiences so everyone feels a little more seen and loved.

I didn’t know the full story of Juneteenth until a few years ago. I’d heard of it, but never really understood it. That’s embarrassing to admit as someone who’s done inclusion work for nearly two decades. But the truth is, I stayed in my lane. My gay lane. I called myself an ally, but I wasn’t practicing intentional allyship. I was safe. Comfortable. Separate.

Like many people, I’ve spent a lot of my life “walking on eggshells”. It started as a kid with a father whose temper taught me to stay quiet to keep the peace. For some, especially those from marginalized groups, walking on eggshells becomes a way to stay small and safe. For others, it’s about cancel culture, a fear of getting it wrong.