11/28/2025
Happy Friday!
Today I am celebrating feeling supported and held warmly in thought by my family, friends, neighbours, and co-conspirators.
Last night I had to choose between showing up for my daughter and showing up for my work. I’ve had these perplexing choices many times before, and when I chose work, I always regretted it. When I showed up, others didn’t (metaphorically speaking) and my family suffered anyway. This, folks, is the place where burnout happens.
But this time was different.
I called on a friend and asked them for support. They showed up for my daughter, so I could show up for my work. And guess what? The people I worked with all showed up too. And I was touched by how much they cared about what I cared about and how much they were invested - to the best of their capabilities - in the work to be done.
This is my understanding of community. It happens on a personal and professional level. My community is small but it’s built on values of mutual respect, empathy, and integrity. We are free to ask of each other - big and small asks. We freely answer Yes and/or No with integrity. We sometimes take weeks-long breaks from each out of respect for each others time. We disagree and we sometimes argue - but we are held together by empathy.
It hasn’t been an easy or simple journey for me to get here, but my community is teaching me how to trust others to look out (and look after) for me. That’s a hard sell to someone who has existed for most of her life without that kind of care and support.
So today I am celebrating feeling supported and being a supporter. I’m celebrating that I can allow myself to feel the warmth and care of the folks around me. I am celebrating that I get to give that back to others in spades.
What are you celebrating on this Friday?