Welcome to my first reflection on my word for 2026, intersection(s). My intention for setting intersection(s) for my word for the year is to see how my values and habits align, merge, and contradict. In so doing, I (hope to) embrace change, while owning my experiences. As such, I anticipate noodlin’ over questions. For example:
How do I identify, right here and now?
There are so many ways to answer that: I am what I do, who/what I believe (in), how I exist in the world, and where values fit in (spoiler alert: probably everywhere). I am my expressions of self (pronouns), as well as my greater groups (organizations). I am my stories that linger, as well as my current beliefs, and I am also what I do and don’t do when I’m alone. Not only that, I am the communities I actively participate in. Book clubs. Spirituality circles. Colleague conversations.
It’s the nature of being human. We are the sum of all our identities and communities.
And yet! Disclosing my identity, such as how I identify with both she and they pronouns, results in emotional labor. Depending on who’s asking, this can simultaneously be one of the simplest ways to start a connection by forming a tie that binds. In other words, by revealing a part of myself, I am opening a community.
Vulnerability is being open to give and receive energy. By sharing some of my identity, I enable others to share too. Such an exchange requires active listening and results in open-hearted living (open-hearted was my word for 2025, click to explore open-hearted posts).
As an introvert in the public, such as working in a public library and community archive, balancing vulnerability, self-identity, and group-identity is particularly demanding. I simultaneously love supporting the public while recognizing my energy often comes from 1:1 experiences. Questions abound:
- Do I disclose every identity?
- Suddenly represent an entire group, just because I am the only one who has shared such an identity?
- Am I enough?
- How do I know I’m being received accurately, and encourage others to give?
Reveals of self, to a group, individual, or to myself, are worth pondering. Reflecting, contradictions may appear from external sources, but it is my self-imposed values that either embrace or reject them.
Behold, an example of my current embrace of coexistence: My Christianity influences my Buddhist practice and vice versa. I chant, pray, meditate, and attend both Nichiren Buddhist discussion meetings and an Evangelical Lutheran church. Believing in God and the greater goal of happiness co-exists. It is others’ beliefs that view this as contradictory. Not me.
My multi-faith co-exists with playing with pronouns. I am all of these experiences. Guided by my values of honesty, zeal for life, and bravery (click here to read my values in full), I continue to show up. Ask tough questions, of myself and others. And recognize the intersections are mine to merge.
Over to you: How do you embrace your lived experiences, with yourself or others? Do you notice any seemingly contradictions? I encourage you to reflect on your values and see the source(s). Questions and comments welcome, and I’ll see you on the 20th, where I’ll explore more on values and goals intersecting, with a specific focus on one or two of my 2026 goals.