For me, growing up Queer & Mormon with divorced parents my life was forged through managing tension with intentionality. It wasn’t easy but I was loved. My parents taught me the values of curiosity and empathy: our family conversations at the kitchen table were often prompted by thought provoking discussions on deep topics. Whether it was politics, money, sex & relationships, social or environmental issues, religion, emotions & mental health, science or a myriad of other topics. We didn’t do surface level and I’m glad because it taught me to think for myself. It taught me to question everything and dig deep in the discussion and often the conversation came back to the people behind the issue. My identity and those conversations gave me the skills to hold safe space between differing and conflicting points of view. It allowed me to see how powerful the personal is. Fast forward to today and I’m incredibly grateful for who I am and where I’ve come from. I’ve gained invaluable lessons of resilience and empathy through vulnerability. This perspective is my guiding light and the way I show up in the world as a coach: it’s all about nurturing people so let’s get to work!