Monday Real Talk

What Works for Me

I had an interesting conversation this weekend that got me thinking.

I realized something about myself.

What works for me may not work for someone else.

And that’s okay.

Personally, I don’t like leading with labels.

I’d rather lead with a conversation.

I want to know who you are.

Tell me about your life.

Tell me what makes you laugh.

Tell me what you’ve overcome.

Tell me what matters to you.

Tell me about your family, your dreams, and your journey.

That’s how I get to know people.

I also realize we live in a multigenerational world.

Each generation has been shaped by different experiences.

My generation grew up one way.

Younger generations are growing up another way.

Neither of us has lived the other’s life.

What I hope for is mutual respect.

I don’t expect everyone to think like I do.

And I don’t expect everyone to approach life the way I do.

But I also hope there is room to respect the way I choose to connect with people.

For me…

Conversation comes before conclusions.

Character matters more than categories.

Listening matters more than assumptions.

I believe every generation has something valuable to offer.

The younger generation brings new ideas and new perspectives.

Older generations bring decades of life experience and lessons learned.

We need each other.

Respect shouldn’t only flow one direction.

It should flow both ways.

I think we spend too much time trying to convince each other who’s right…

…and not enough time simply getting to know one another.

Because when we sit down and have a real conversation…

We often discover we have much more in common than we thought.

That’s what works for me.

It may not work for everyone.

But I hope we can all respect each other’s preferences while never losing sight of kindness, respect, and our shared humanity.

— Lady Flava 🌻