Inside NTTAC: Where Do You Take Up Space?
April 30, 2024
Key Topics: Belonging
Taking up space is my favorite thing to do. I love to let my personality be as big and bright as my inner light, and how other people in that space react tells me if they think I belong there or not. Lucky for me, I don’t care what others think; as we know, there will always be haters among us. However, I was not like this around strangers, or around those I’d call my friends, until I cultivated loving and understanding communities to surround me and show me that I don’t have to conform to truly be valued. I often joke about how different I am from my friends; yet, we have so much in common that goes beyond interest in pop culture or sharing the same university. Feeling accepted by those you choose to share space with lays the foundation for a found family, and mine has become an integral part of my life.
Conversely, another huge part of my life is work. At work, many of us see the same people every day and have to decide when they change from stranger to coworker to possibly a friend. How do I show who I am while remaining professional? Can I truly call a coworker a friend if they only see part of me? How do I take up space in the workplace while not shoving people’s feelings or my responsibilities aside? I struggle with these questions quite often because it simply feels wrong not to be my full self, and to expect the same from those I spend time with. Working to maintain the communities I am a part of and creating space to form a new community is a constant struggle of competing priorities for me. Who gets more of my attention, and when? How do I balance life and how I am able to live that life?
Fortunately, I work with amazing people. They may share the same pop culture interests or have attended the same university as me, but more importantly, they care deeply about the work we do. Justice, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion are embedded in every conversation, and I know my lived experience is valued whenever I choose to share. I have been given space to grow, thrive, and shine my light with people I am on the clock with, and to make sure to give them space to do the same. Work-life balance is easy when I am supported and understood by those on my Zoom or sending me Beyoncé gifs in the Teams chat.
Finding a community to belong to or creating one can be difficult. These reflection questions can help shape your journey as you connect with others:
- Do you feel accepted and valued by the people around you, whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues?
- Do you feel a connection to a particular community, culture, or group?
- Do you feel comfortable and supported in your environment, whether it’s your home, workplace, or social circle?
- Do you have shared interests or experiences with others that contribute to your sense of belonging?