Esther Perel Instagram – We are taught from a young age to express ourselves. The parts of us that don’t fit in with the groups and communities we are part of, get relegated to a dark corner inside of us. Most of us don’t learn for years what’s in that corner. We have a sense of it. But we don’t dare investigate. I think we can all relate to that loneliness. Despite how alone we may feel, this is one of the most universal experiences in the world—particularly if the part you are hiding is that you are not straight or cis. If you’re reading this and seeing yourself, then you intimately know the shame and fear that comes from the threat of being excluded or excommunicated from the very groups that mean so much to you, whether it’s your family, friend group, or religious institution. Despite the proliferation of Pride celebrations worldwide, many of us don’t come from places that are ready to embrace us in our fullness. But that, too, is a universal experience. I’ve witnessed and studied many powerful examples of human connection. But there is one that I return to time and time again to illustrate why friendship is just as important as romantic partnership or familial ties – the concept of chosen family. Those who shine a light into that dark corner inside of us. Those who see who we truly are. Those who accept it. And those who can relate. In this month’s newsletter, I explore chosen family, how I’ve seen this structure support and uplift those around me, and how family of choice has held me. Follow the link in my bio to read the full story.