I am finding joy in being human.

Today, I went to the gym, and after exchanging dozens of conversations in the locker room with random people, I had a realization in the car.

As I started the engine, it struck me—not the engine, but this notion.

I felt genuinely happy at that moment, and I knew exactly why: I had sparked so many conversations with others, and those simple connections helped me realize something profound.

It’s great to be human.

To talk with other humans.

Connecting on different levels builds me up from the inside.

It got me thinking, and I came up with this idea:

Joy comes from being uncomfortable and doing it anyway.

It’s all in the mundane.

Or, better put, I don’t always find talking with people or going for a run mundane—just simple. These simple acts spark something in the most important parts of my soul and heart.

There’s so much love in pushing through the barrier of connecting with others—or even with oneself.

I haven’t written this newsletter in so long because I want to share things that genuinely impact you and help you grow. Important things keep happening that I’d love to share, but sometimes I just can’t find the strength or clarity to do so.

Still, I hope that maybe one of you—or a dozen—reading this will resonate with these words.

Simplicity lets us grow when we stay consistent.

Back in school, I never would’ve imagined I’d be “that person” who walks up to strangers at the gym, in public, at fairs, or while traveling to strike up a conversation. But now, I know it’s such a fundamental part of the human experience, and honestly, it’s a lot of fun.

I stopped worrying about whether someone was an extrovert or an introvert.

For years, I thought I was an introvert, but real-life experiences have shown me that I can’t live without talking to others and collaborating on exciting projects.

And yet, it’s amazing how unique we all are.

Without labels, it’s perfectly okay to sit somewhere on a spectrum about anything—and to shift along it as our lives and circumstances evolve.

To be human is to adapt to different scenarios.

The whole post was supposed to be about those little conversations I had at the gym today, but I’ve gone off track!

I think I spoke with 10, maybe 15 people? I didn’t make it a goal, but it just happened. At one point, a small group of us started chatting about tattoos—one guy had some incredible ink! None of us knew each other, but somehow, we all joined this shared human experience.

Was it weird to ask that guy to turn around and show all his tattoos? Maybe a little. But it was so much fun. I genuinely wanted to see them, so I kept asking questions. Others joined in, and suddenly, we were all laughing and connecting.

We had a genuine human connection, and it made me realize how fun it is to embrace the human experience.

Sure, some people might find it odd to approach someone and ask about their tattoos, especially when they’re only in their gym shorts! But if it leads to smiles all around, isn’t that worth a little discomfort?

Working with people brings me so much joy.

Even those dreaded phone calls—I still get nervous before the first one of the day. But after a few seconds, I find my rhythm. On the other end of the line is another human being, likely just as nervous as I am.

By the time I’ve made five calls, they feel seamless.

Taking that first step is always the hardest.

It’s simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. When you want to do something so badly, and every part of your body and mind is screaming at you not to, that’s where the magic of growth lies.

Honestly, I feel like helping others embrace this aspect of life could be my purpose.

To help people realize it’s a gift to connect with fellow humans.

At the end of the day, I believe we all want joy out of life.

We don’t want to overcomplicate things and drown in misery—that’s exhausting.

We try to simplify our worries and work on them, even if they sometimes overwhelm us. Deep down, we crave connection, yet fear often stops us from making the first move.

I feel all of that.

But as time passes, I find peace in being someone who can push past the fear and step fully into the human experience, accepting everything it brings.

The emotions.

The worries.

The pleasures.

The sorrows.

There are so many beautiful minds out there—people you can spark conversations with. Who knows where it might lead? I love how simple it is to connect with others.

I still struggle to keep up with people, whether they live five minutes away or 5,000 miles away. It takes effort to call, send a thoughtful message, or even share a meme.

But when the time comes to be with them fully, it’s so worth it.

To be human—or at least to try to be.