Random Conversations is a newsletter for those who believe in the power of a positive perspective. The intent behind these conversations is to explore and uplift our shared humanity. It is my hope that these conversations will be received as a source of inspiration and joy.
We live in times filled with fractured communication and interactions. We can choose a different way of being by embodying love, acceptance, curiosity, in an environment that excludes judgment. Personal experiences are shared along with mindsets and frameworks rather than step-by-step instruction.
These conversations champion intentionally honoring ways of being and promotes the belief that we can change our world, one interaction at a time. Choose the change wisely.
Who Am I?
I grapple with the answer to this question. Responses range from mundane to existential, and all are correct. We contain multitudes and cannot be confined to a box.
Traditionally, here is where my professional bio goes, but I don’t think that’s the most important or interesting part of the story. Who I am is less about what I’ve done, and more about how I do that.
There is a through-line that connects my childhood to today. I have come to accept that I am an empath, a term that initially seemed more than a bit pretentious. Here’s the Cleveland Clinic’s explanation: What Is an Empath? And 4 Signs You Are One.
Who am I to argue with such an esteemed institution about its existence? In their list of styles, I am a combination of an emotional and intuitive empath. Regarding the latter, and without going all Joan of Arc here, I hear voices – a topic, a word, a sentence, whole paragraphs. And when I do, I know it’s right.
Professionally, the ability to think and feel as another was there in my first career as an actor, and continued in my second career working in Human Resources / Organizational Development. In the latter, I was often found in the middle, helping leadership teams understand the needs of employees and helping employees gain a deeper understanding of new directives.
In my work and in my personal life, I listen to understand, without judgment, and once I understand I can respond in a meaningful way – often aided by a word or phrase in my ear. The conversation that ensues from this way of being has been at the heart of all I do.
What You Can Expect
For 4 1/2 years, I wrote about “delicious conversations” on my website and on Medium which are defined as intentionally honoring of each person involved, and result in the elevation of the human spirit.
Over time, I have expanded the traditional definition of conversation to include conversations with myself, my city (New York City is home), the unfolding beauty of nature, and more. Over my first year on Substack, this has expanded again to explore the how – that is, the mindset and philosophy behind intentionally honoring interactions.
Posts are published each Wednesday and are free to all. Subscribers receive an email copy of each post plus access to activity on Notes. You are invited to interact with both – and I hope you will! For those who prefer to listen rather than read, I record the voiceover for each post.
Building a Community
What excites me about Substack is that it actively supports building a community. It is my hope that you will join me in creating and building this one.
