how this started.
A few years ago, I was facilitating an in-person community workshop, when something unexpected fell upon me. We were listening, sharing, connecting, when a palpable presence suddenly showed up. It shook me to my core. On my drive home, I called a dear friend, convinced that I must be the last person on the planet who could facilitate these types of discussions. Hard conversations, filled with uncertainty - where we slowly practice how to find our way towards each other and hold, grasp, and care for each other’s stories. Where the undersides, the hidden joys and aches come to light, and we find our way through together.
She listened. Supported me as I grappled with doubt. Told me I’d figure it out. That’s how I stumbled into The Space Between Us™.
how it’s going.
I’ve been finding my way through the in-between spaces of life & work, falling into practices, ways of being, habits, and tiny shifts that help us connect with ourselves in the 8 years since.
Slowly discovering:
how to build and design organizational culture & communication patterns that help us build better relationships, increase clarity, and take action in ways that bring people together - so we can can lead with authenticity, find joy in our daily work together, and consistently get more done;
how to stay present and grounded while navigating the humbling fragility of trying to raise kind human beings (my tiny humans) - without sinking into endless comparison, projecting pain, people pleasing, or getting caught in an endless loop of shame (and not enough-ness) that leads nowhere fast; and
exploring, examining, and incrementally discovering The Art of Making Room to be Still in a very loud world - so we can learn how to listen and connect with ourselves and each other in ways that fill us up more and drain our souls & sense of well-being less.
Law school and grad school gave me tools for data, research, logic and strategic analysis.
But it’s through learning how to connect with people across lived experiences, background, and personal perspective - at work and in life - and learning from my face-first mistakes that I began to discover that not knowing doesn’t equal failure. That your ability and my ability to listen, lead, learn and grow doesn’t hinge on having all the answers.
The connection we crave, the stability we seek, and the transformative growth we hope for in ourselves, with those we love, and in our workplaces unfolds as we learn how to listen and Start with Story.
So that’s where we’ll begin. Not with solutions. Speculation. Endless to-do lists that lead nowhere (and feed misplaced assumptions).
I’d like to make sure there’s one spot in the world where you can feel truly listened to. One space where you can find comfort, ask hard questions, and get words that help you stay connected in difficult conversations.
A please where you can feel less alone and begin to find your way forward within the story you’re living today.
We’ll begin with one tiny story shift™ a day.
so what now?
Let’s be real. When you wake up in the morning, wishing you felt more connected, or knew what to say to climb out of the chaos, change your life, and make an impact on the world around you, the very last thing you need is side-eye, shame, or condescending shoulds.
You need company. Someone to walk with you as you move through the in-between spaces of life. Someone willing to share their mistakes, and save you time, money, and energy. A place where you can find the right words, feel less alone, and shape a life you actually want to live.
So this newsletter + podcast is where you’ll find my:
daily tiny story shifts - to help you slow down (at work and in your life), make room, and feel just a little bit more connected to yourself and the stories that surround you each day;
letters to my daughter - personal writings where I stumble through the realities of what it takes to attempt to raise kind humans in a rapidly changing world; and
Mutual Dignity Dispatches - to support leaders and teams in building organizational cultures where work gets done well and people know they belong.
I’m still feeling my way through. Would you like to walk with me?
Hit subscribe.
I’ll do my best to pop into your inbox around the middle of each day (towards the afternoons/evenings heading to, and through, the weekends) and to respond to every question you share (paid subscribers only).
I’m listening.
