My other They is a Them.

No base, no trace.

Are we efficient now? Are we great again yet?

Uhh, US biscuit or UK biscuit?

As a child refugee who has moved around a bunch, I completely agree. I was never inducted into community, never shown how to establish this vital component of a pleasurable life. And some part of me understands that community doesn’t just appear, you have to work at it to find the people you want to be around, but how does that happen? Not in the logistical sense, that I understand how to approach, but in the relational sense. How does one begin to belong having never felt belonging in the first place?

I would argue it’s the only way. Can’t outrun the fork.

You’re aware of all the changes you need to make, or at least you have a strong intuition. All of my lasting adaptations have been built on tiny increments gained over time, and only from a place of love. Be kind to yourself. Also, if you’re not already looking at it, strongly consider your sleep hygiene. Good, consistent sleep is the base of the pyramid. No lasting change, especially when it comes to one’s physical condition, can be sustained if your sleep is shit.

In my understanding “stay Black” means “remain authentic,” not “retain your melanin,” so the statement holds.

I think this discussion would benefit from a clear definition of what a “good person” is. No one achieves power on their own, and what’s good for the individual is not always good for the group. The inverse is also true. I have lead small teams where I actively fostered collaboration, enabled autonomy and encouraged contribution from all levels. This placed me into a position of power, and I don’t think anyone would describe what I did as the actions of a “bad person.” But achieving relative power in a small group of people working towards a similar goal is not the same as achieving power in a political system where crabs in a bucket mentality is prominent and everything is seen as zero sum.