I figured something out recently that looked an awful lot like something I had figured out already.

It had to do with branding and business strategy, something I'm already pretty opinionated on. In short, I believe that a lot of the frameworks that are being presented as necessary and universal are not, and don't need to be implemented on a certain timeline (or at all).

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I watched a bunch of episodes of Fraggle Rock as a kid, but there's only one that I remember with any clarity.

Among the Fraggles, there lived creatures called Doozers. They were continually building and rebuilding structures in and among the rock formations of their habitat. The Fraggles ate these structures, which is why the Doozers were constantly rebuilding.

Well, in one episode, the Fraggles feel guilty and decide to stop eating the Doozers' structures.

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Growing up, I was exposed to some very strong messaging for girls and women.

It showed up in books and magazines, TV and movie plots, and conversations with adults and peers.

The message was that you don't need a boyfriend (or husband) to be a complete person.

Since I hadn't been around during the days when marriage was a woman's top priority, I had no context for this message.

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I have a really hard time visualizing a room as it could be.

I can imagine rearranging furnishings in a different way, but it's difficult for me to imagine furnishings that aren't already there. I agonize over paint and textile colors. What's more, it's almost impossible for me to picture options for remodeling.

When it comes to interior design, I see only what is there. I would have to rely on someone like my friend Antonia to be able to see what could be done to create a more pleasant, attractive, and livable space.

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I used to teach a kid who would ask a question and then offer a big, showy “Ahhhhh!” or “Ohhhhhh!” when she heard the answer.

It took me a while to figure out that she was usually faking it. Either she wasn’t truly interested in the answer, or was afraid she would look stupid if she needed more than one quick explanation. Either way, she didn’t really get it. She wasn’t really engaging with me or whatever I was teaching—she just wanted to make it look like she was doing so.

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