We talk a big game about actions over stories, but the story matters more. Actions build stories, and we build ourselves from those. “I’m a person who does this, not that.” Our stories tell us what to do next.

Holding space for “sexy,” “longing,” “playful,” and “grieving” means owning them. Pretty literally. I watch my neck age before the rest of me, my gut grow and recede.

Showing you all that is scary. It makes me very vulnerable. Opening keeps me focused.

It helps me remember, when I demand that rawness from my sitters, what we all need to feel safe, when we’re so exposed.