“So your full time job is writing here? That’s so important.”

I usually dismiss comments like that — because in a sense, working with words is as natural as tying shoes to me. Sure, there is the work of pulling and wrangling stories out of myself that more than breaks an emotional sweat, but stringing simple words together into sentences that make sense and communicate something clearly — I can do it easily. Backwards and in heels.

But after someone said a similar comment the other day, it made me stop and assess. I’m realizing there’s something going on when I simply dismiss those kind comments — that, by the way Caitlin, people are going out of their way to say. I’m dismissing myself in the process and what I bring to help my coworkers and world. 

I don’t like that I do this, but I don’t think I’m the only one who holds the practice. You, me, we – we matter. Our gifts matter. Our stories and capabilities are ours specifically and it’s our job to use them, share them. Shrinking is a sign of death, not humility. We can only help if we show up and admit what we’ve brought with us.