Curiosity Came First

Tell me your whole story.

One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "Are you like this outside of work, too?"

The short answer is yes.

Whether I'm dating, spending time with family, or talking with friends, someone will eventually say, "Don't be doing that counselor thing with me."

I usually laugh because the truth is...this isn't something I turn on and off.

It's simply who I am.

I was raised to be a counselor.

My Papa has always had a story to tell. If you've ever met me in session and thought, "She always has a story," you know exactly where I got it. You can blame him. 😊

Looking back, I'm grateful for that. Stories were never just entertainment in our family. They were how we connected, how we learned, and how we made sense of life. They taught me that every experience has context, every perspective has value, and every person has a story worth hearing.

My parents also gave me something I now recognize as one of life's greatest gifts. They created space for me to speak honestly, compassionately, openly, and sometimes very straightforwardly.

I didn’t know it at the time…

My thoughts were welcomed.

My questions weren't dismissed.

Curiosity was encouraged rather than quieted.

I'm the youngest of eight children. People often have ideas about what the youngest child is like. My story unfolded a little differently.

While my siblings were already becoming who they were, I had a front-row seat. I watched personalities develop, disagreements unfold, relationships evolve, and people navigate life in very different ways. Long before I understood human behavior through textbooks, I was learning from the people and relationships around me every day.

According to my mom, I didn't speak for the first two years of my life. She laughed as she followed that story with, "...and you haven't shut up since."

She wasn't wrong.

Looking back, my education didn't change who I was. It helped me understand why these experiences mattered. Mindfulness taught me to slow down and notice. Cognitive behavioral therapy helped me understand the powerful connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Practical life skills reinforced that our choices have consequences, our perspectives can shift, and even the smallest intentional changes can create meaningful growth. Those ideas weren't new to me. They gave language and structure to lessons that had been growing in me all of my life.

Somewhere along the way, I also grew into someone who enjoys taking thoughtful risks, asking meaningful questions, challenging assumptions, and carving out a path that feels authentic. I appreciate structure, and I appreciate rules. Rules often provide safety, clarity, and direction. I also believe growth sometimes begins when we're willing to explore what exists beyond the rule, especially when the rule no longer leaves room for understanding, acceptance, or another perspective. Some of the most meaningful conversations happen in the gray, where curiosity has room to breathe and people have room to grow. Thank goodness there is such a thing as holding both ideas to be true.

I've always been interested in understanding people.

The profession came later.

The curiosity came first.