Watch out for anyone who demands you jump through hoops just to be treated with basic decency.
There’s a difference between earning trust and earning the right to be treated like a human being. The former is part of healthy relationships. The latter is a red flag.
Dignity isn’t a reward—it’s a baseline. You don’t need to prove your intelligence, competence, or usefulness to deserve courtesy, fairness, or kindness. If someone makes your dignity conditional, they’re not building trust—they’re asserting control.
Yes, respect for someone’s judgment or expertise is often earned over time. A job interview, a test of reliability, a gradual deepening of trust—these are normal. But they should never come at the cost of your basic worth.
If someone tells you to “prove your value” before they’ll treat you with respect, ask yourself: Are they assessing your skills—or trying to make you feel small?
In healthy relationships, respect is layered—but dignity is non-negotiable. You can earn someone’s confidence, but you should never have to earn their humanity.
Mentorship once meant absorbing polished advice from someone with gray hair, a Rolodex thick with gatekeepers, and the power to open doors. Age conferred authority. Experience granted relevance—and access.
Most people prefer to 
If your interlocutor seems to be plotting an escape (e.g., avoiding eye contact or fixating on the snack table,) let them off the hook.
Got a brilliant idea? Share it freely and let others get in on the action.
Leaving a party without causing a stir can be a bit of a balancing act. Some people worry about appearing rude or becoming a buzzkill, while others aren’t sure when to make their exit or if they might unintentionally upset the host or guests. Here’s how to make your departure smooth:
While workplaces often tout their commitment to diversity, there’s an unspoken expectation to assimilate into their prevailing culture and norms. They prefer a subtle balance of assertiveness, neither too outspoken nor too passive, and opinions that gravitate toward the middle ground. Even dress codes enforce this moderate approach, discouraging extremes of formality or informality.
A bitter truth of life is the fleeting nature of friendships, even those imbued with profound love and mutual regard.