06/06/2026
In Boston, I stopped to read this sign.
What struck me wasn’t just the message itself. It was the reminder that what we carry within us often shapes what we see around us.
Some people might see a political statement.
Others might see compassion.
Others might see belonging.
Our experiences, values, fears, hopes, and wounds influence what stands out to us and what we overlook.
As a psychologist, I often see this in therapy. The world is not only filtered through our eyes. It is filtered through our stories.
During Pride Month, I find myself reflecting on the importance of acceptance. Not because we all have to be the same, but because every person deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to be fully human.
Being human is hard enough.
When we lead with curiosity instead of judgment, and kindness instead of fear, we create more space for connection. Sometimes that begins by noticing what a sign, a conversation, or a moment stirs up in us.
What we notice often tells us as much about ourselves as it does about what we’re looking at.
TownsendDE
