“We are human beings, not human doings.” A friend shared this quote alongside an article: A Better Way to Introduce Your Friends at Parties. The short story is that we can come back to the job titles later — we want to start with what is more meaningful and memorable. Try these:”He’s one of the most thoughtful people I know.” “She shows up more than any friend I have.” “She knows how to meet you in deep waters and pull you back up for air without panicking or judging how you got there.”
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine myself separate from my work or what I do. I think that’s partly because we’re pushed to build resumes, with all our accomplishments (the things we’ve done) and how important we were when we were then. It’s tangible and countable. It’s filled with many long, intelligent words. It’s often what people so “wow” to or envy others over. Who are you outside of what you do?
Who am I? What’s left? I am my values — clarity, brevity, intrigue, specific optimism. Dependability, conscientiousness. I never cancel a meeting with clients or friends. I am careful with feedback. I try to ask several open ended questions after I listen.
I am what underlies all that I do. A tendency for quirkiness. A curiosity about how people think and learn and communicate and love. A desire to ask new questions and have surprising conversation. A drive to make moments that don’t feel like deja vu.