Last night I met with someone I had only spoken to online. We went to a coffee shop and INSTANTLY just yapped and yapped. About history, culture, life, work, geology, psychology. We laughed so much my cheeks feel SORE this morning. I didn't want the night to end so I asked if she wanted to come to this bar and the fun talks and time just continued but this time I had my best friend there and another friend and we all connected so beautifully and had an amazing time talking about all things again. I'm the kind of person that needs co-regulation (read about it on this post). I thrive in connections, especially deep ones. As humans, we need safety before anything else and to me, being around people who make me feel like i'm not too much, that what i have to say is interesting and they genuinely want to be there. THAT IS SAFETY. And my nervous system LOVES it and needs it! As I vowed to let myself feel joy without worrying about perfection, that also includes being RADICALLY myself and experience the joy of having people who appreciate it. So I’m letting this be enough. No lesson, no takeaway that needs to be optimized. Just a night where my nervous system felt safe, my body felt alive, and I didn’t shrink myself to be digestible. I felt joy. And that counts. What kind of connection makes your nervous system go “oh… this is nice”?

@Dinka Salvador shared this beautiful poem in her community and I made this video. I feel like a lot of people REALLY need to hear this 💕 Enjoy! And please let me know in the comments if this resonates and how it will help you lead better your communities and show up authentically for your people!