You say hello. You ask their name, their job, their hobbies. You ask where they’re from and their favorite movies. You’re doing it wrong.

Next time you meet someone, instead ask them: “Who are you?”

They’ll probably widen their eyes a bit. Maybe they’ll pause in momentary reflection. But they’ll make a choice, and what they choose to tell you is as important as the information itself.

Maybe they’ ll tell you what makes them tick.

Nowadays, we so rarely get to define ourselves. We’re taught that our careers and our sports preferences and our favorite activities make us who we are. But these are all side effects of the things that really define us: our values, the visions we’re trying to uphold, and the paths we’ve forged.

Who am I?

I am a daughter. I am a product designer. I am a wanderer. I am curious. I am trying to nudge humanity forward with only the scrawls on my whiteboard, the gratefully blinding effect of my naivety, and 1380 minutes of each day.

The other hour is spent playing board games.