Uncomfortable

Many years ago when I started working on the Internet, I developed a litmus test for whether something difficult was worth sharing: If the thought of posting something publicly made me want to barf, then it probably meant there was important work to be done; that even if I didn't know how I was going to "fix things" (do we ever really fix things?), I could work through my own shit and help others face or process their issues. Crude as it is, the Christine Koh barf-o-meter has been a shockingly accurate metric that has lead to deep and impactful conversations about everything from race to sexual harassment to body image to emotional and physical abuse.

Right now people are pretty damned uncomfortable. I can feel the discomfort radiating with scorching heat off the Internet as people clearly are struggling with speaking up, making mistakes, and facing their privilege. And I am here with this gentle yet firm encouragement: If you're uncomfortable, that means there is important work to do. The work will require you to dig deep. The work will require you to step outside yourself in service of others. And the work will make you a better human on the other side.