Justin, your words moved me deeply, especially this piece. I’ve never quite reflected on the "outie" and "innie" worlds of life and work, though I’ve lived it closely—being married for two decades to someone I met at work. Some of the most impactful people in my life were work colleagues. They walked with me for a season, transformed me, and then left—and, as you so poignantly described, I may never see them again. That grief, in my experience, has never truly faded. It just settled quietly in a corner of my heart, accompanied by a silent wish that those who brought such light into my life receive it back tenfold.
Thank you for giving voice to feelings so rarely acknowledged, and for allowing space to honor those quiet, profound connections we make through work. Your writing gave me permission to pause, feel, and remember, with gratitude and tenderness.
Much gratitude for your posts. And, grace and shalom to you as well.
Inely, I am truly privileged to have served you, in any small way. Thank you, I am so very encouraged by your reflection and sharing.
I often feel that I write and it sits out there unnoticed, that sometimes the only purpose it serves is as a journal for my own self-reflection.
But your encouragement reminds me why I started doing this, which is whatever it is we may be going through, it is a road better traveled with the understanding that we are not alone, that we are united with others in fundamental ways in how we struggle, how we feel, and how we prevail.
This is a new world in many ways. We're learning to connect differently—sometimes through the quiet act of reading each other’s words. And yet, in these seemingly distant exchanges, something inside us stirs. We identify. We resonate. We transform.
Your articles (I’ve read several, and each one has touched me deeply) feel to me like an invisible friendship. In this virtual world, there are people we know only through words and pictures, yet they leave deep footprints on our hearts.
Perhaps today we live in three worlds: the “outie,” the “innie,” and now the “virtulie.” 😉
Truly, your voice matters. Please keep writing and sharing your journey. You never know how far the ripple effects will go, but I believe they’re already reaching farther than you realize.
Thank you for sharing your light. I, for one, am deeply grateful.
Wow, do I feel this one. I retired a year ago and while I have some contact with my best work friends...it's been a real loss...I was fond of even co-workers I only interacted with sporadically and superficially; I do miss them too. It's a loss. Thank you for talking about this - never have seen it discussed before though it's something every one of us will experience or has experienced.
Betsy, you are always a source of great encouragement. It means so much to have my thoughts validated as speaking to someone else, and it helps me feel more connected to my work, and to this community.
Justin, your words moved me deeply, especially this piece. I’ve never quite reflected on the "outie" and "innie" worlds of life and work, though I’ve lived it closely—being married for two decades to someone I met at work. Some of the most impactful people in my life were work colleagues. They walked with me for a season, transformed me, and then left—and, as you so poignantly described, I may never see them again. That grief, in my experience, has never truly faded. It just settled quietly in a corner of my heart, accompanied by a silent wish that those who brought such light into my life receive it back tenfold.
Thank you for giving voice to feelings so rarely acknowledged, and for allowing space to honor those quiet, profound connections we make through work. Your writing gave me permission to pause, feel, and remember, with gratitude and tenderness.
Much gratitude for your posts. And, grace and shalom to you as well.
Inely, I am truly privileged to have served you, in any small way. Thank you, I am so very encouraged by your reflection and sharing.
I often feel that I write and it sits out there unnoticed, that sometimes the only purpose it serves is as a journal for my own self-reflection.
But your encouragement reminds me why I started doing this, which is whatever it is we may be going through, it is a road better traveled with the understanding that we are not alone, that we are united with others in fundamental ways in how we struggle, how we feel, and how we prevail.
I hear you, Justin.
This is a new world in many ways. We're learning to connect differently—sometimes through the quiet act of reading each other’s words. And yet, in these seemingly distant exchanges, something inside us stirs. We identify. We resonate. We transform.
Your articles (I’ve read several, and each one has touched me deeply) feel to me like an invisible friendship. In this virtual world, there are people we know only through words and pictures, yet they leave deep footprints on our hearts.
Perhaps today we live in three worlds: the “outie,” the “innie,” and now the “virtulie.” 😉
Truly, your voice matters. Please keep writing and sharing your journey. You never know how far the ripple effects will go, but I believe they’re already reaching farther than you realize.
Thank you for sharing your light. I, for one, am deeply grateful.
Wow, do I feel this one. I retired a year ago and while I have some contact with my best work friends...it's been a real loss...I was fond of even co-workers I only interacted with sporadically and superficially; I do miss them too. It's a loss. Thank you for talking about this - never have seen it discussed before though it's something every one of us will experience or has experienced.
Betsy, you are always a source of great encouragement. It means so much to have my thoughts validated as speaking to someone else, and it helps me feel more connected to my work, and to this community.