Professional Human Being

Take a deep breath. Inhale until you feel it all—the stress, the joy, the nonsense, and the beauty of this inexplicable little ride called life. Hold it there for a moment. Now exhale slowly. There you go. You’re breathing. Congratulations, you’re already doing what it means to be human. Simple, isn’t it?

Being a professional human being is about what you do with all the messy bits in between those breaths.

See, we’re all drafted into this gig without so much as an interview. Thrown into the chaos of existence, no onboarding manual, no HR department to tell us what’s acceptable behavior, just the desperate hope we don’t blow it entirely. And when it comes to being a professional human being, it’s not about looking the part or clocking in on time—it’s about the art of trying, failing, and finding the courage to keep showing up anyway.

Look around. Everyone is winging it. That guy with the suit and the Bluetooth headset? Just winging it. The barista who spells your name wrong on the cup every morning? Winging it. That woman who seems to have it all together but bursts into tears when the WiFi cuts out? Winging it. The secret—and maybe the only thing that makes you a professional at this whole human being deal—is being honest about it.

Embrace your fumbles. Wear your flaws like a name tag at a networking event, because once you’re open about how ridiculous this all is, you can actually get something done. You can make genuine connections, fix real problems, or at the very least, share a good laugh.

Being intentional means remembering we all came from the same primordial ooze and—with any luck—we’re all headed toward the same exit sign, eventually. And somewhere in the middle of all that, we’re supposed to make something meaningful out of our limited time. To do that, start small. Acknowledge the humanity in others. Nod at the stranger on the street. Hold the door open, even if it’s just for someone with nothing but bad intentions and a big ol' attitude. Be willing to admit when you’re wrong—and relish the glorious, fleeting moments when you’re right.

A professional human knows that every person they encounter is also just an amateur at this, doing their best with the tools they've got. They approach others with humor, with empathy, and with a bit of an edge—because the truth is, we could all use a little shake to remind us to pay attention. Life is absurd, but it’s the only show in town, so you might as well keep your eyes wide open, laugh when it’s funny, and fight like hell to make it better.

Professional humanity isn’t about perfection; it's about intention. It's about getting up every day, taking that deep breath, and deciding that, despite all the greed, stupidity, and suffering, you’re still going to try. You're going to be kind even when it's inconvenient. You’re going to be thoughtful even when you’re tired. You’re going to keep reminding yourself that, yes, the human condition is as flawed as it is miraculous. And most importantly, you’re going to stay curious—about others, about the world, and about the strange, wonderful thing that happens when you just keep showing up.

Now, take another breath. Feel that? That’s humanity—absurd, hopeful, unpredictable. Keep that intention, and go on, be a professional human being. You might not get a raise, but you’ll earn something much better—a life that’s genuinely, deeply yours.

-sedale