Goal: To answer honestly when someone asks, “How are you?”
"How am I? Well, as a recovering perfectionist, I'd love to tell you that I'm perfect and that my holiday cards will definitely go out on time this year.
Also, my kids love taking pictures with me.
The truth, of course, is a bit more real.
How am I? Well, I had to mute a Zoom call because my baby took his shoe off, threw it at me like some kind of angry old diplomat, and knocked over my coffee.
If my measuring stick is perfection, that's not a great story.
But lately, my goal hasn't been perfect. My goal has been whole. For me, that looks like:
Being honest with my coworkers when I need help. (Like when I need to pause and clean up spilled coffee.)
Admitting when I don't know something or when I made a mistake—finding the confidence I need to speak up in those moments.
Having the guts to ask for what I want, clearly and unapologetically.
And because that feels right to me—letting parts of my life overlap a little, letting ‘Mom Sarah’ and ‘Work Sarah’ and ‘Ambitious Sarah’ be SARAH—I'm beginning to feel more comfortable in my own skin.
So when someone asks how I'm doing, I can answer honestly. My answer might change day-to-day, or even minute-to-minute… but it's real.
I can tell you that I'm loving my work right now, but that even though I have a lot to be thankful for, some days are still really hard. I can tell you that I'm always adapting as a parent. And, I can tell you that my 2021 holiday cards might not get mailed until 2022.
It's the whole truth. And instead of feeling like a version of myself at work, I get to be just one person.
One whole person."
- Sarah Glova, Co-Editor of 8&21
"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are."
