Michelle Obama Instagram – It was so wonderful to see @MindyKaling honored with the National Medal of Arts by President Biden this week for her trailblazing work across television, film, and books. In #TheLightWeCarry, I write about Mindy in a chapter that explores the feeling of being an “other” or an “only” that many of us experience. Sometimes it’s because of our race or ethnicity; other times it’s our gender; for me growing up, it was my height. Whatever the reason, those differences that make us stand out and often lead us to shrink ourselves. When Mindy started on The Office, she was twenty-four-years old and the only woman and person of color writing on the show. Now, Mindy could have decided to let those feelings of doubt take over, but she didn’t. She stepped forward. She endured the discomfort of being an “only,” drilled down on the work, and because of that—she was able to make more space for others coming up behind her, creating room for more storytellers and more stories along the way. Since then, she’s become a powerhouse in her field, creating, producing, writing, and starring in multiple hit TV shows and movies, nearly all of which feature the stories of women of color. With her work, she’s widened the sphere for belonging and empowering so many women along the way by allowing themselves to be seen. Congrats on the award, Mindy! You deserve it. #WomensHistoryMonth