I want everyone to feel included. As I’ve talked about before, my childhood was unconventional. I couldn’t quite figure out where I belonged or how to make friends. Eventually I got better at belonging. I tried on a bunch of personalities, likes/dislikes, friendships and figured out who I wanted to be. What I’ve discovered is while I have extremely introverted tendencies (I call myself a recluse- truly this pandemic wouldn’t have phased me one bit if there weren’t three kids crawling all over me every day) I have a strong heart for the outcast, the lost, the oppressed, the person who is new and just needs to feel that they belong. 

This core belief leads me to do things that seem out of character. I talk to strangers, a lot. If we are standing in line at Disneyland and I overhear you aren’t sure where to go for lunch, I’m going to give you a rundown of the best spots and why. If we are riding the elevator and I like your shoes, we are going to talk about it. I can’t help myself. I want people to feel welcome, even if it’s just a moment of their day. 

Most of us are walking through daily moments unsure of where or how we belong. Now even more than ever it’s hard to connect or feel a part of something. What is one way you can make those around you feel welcomed?