I recently came across my grandmother’s birth certificate and discovered that her actual birthday was months away from the day we celebrated every year—a day on which I still think about her.
I was stunned. Why would she choose a different day, especially when she had proof of the truth?
It made me wonder: What else didn’t I know about this person I loved so deeply?
And if I could be unaware of something so personal about my grandmother, what core details might I not know about my neighbor, my friend, or my colleague?
What small details might differ from what I assume?
What experiences or motivations might quietly shape how they show up, what they share, or what they protect?
Especially this week, let’s soften our assumptions.
Let’s stay curious.
And let’s make room for the stories we haven’t yet heard.
Happy Thanksgiving!