One of my favorite icebreaker questions is: "What are you proud of that you usually don't get to talk about?"

A friend of mine hosts community events in San Francisco designed to help people feel more connected with one another. The events begin with a preamble about the organizer's vision, followed by a quick description of the rules. From there, participants break into three smaller groups for a series of discussions. Each group is assigned a question to answer together.

The questions start out approachable:

• What is something that happened in the past three months that brought you joy?
• What are you feeling excited and energized about?
• What are you looking forward to in the next three months?

The question about what you're proud of touches on vulnerability. It gives permission for group members to share something they don’t usually talk about. It’s an opportunity to shine and let others see a more personal side and be a little shiny.

Of course, there’s some social risk, too. You can share something you’re proud of, but there’s an unspoken etiquette—a fine line between being proud and coming off as a show-off. That risk is part of what makes vulnerability meaningful. It’s about putting yourself out there, even when there’s a little skin in the game.

One thing I’m proud of that I don’t usually get to share? I’ve posted over 200 blog entries since 2024. I’ve been writing almost every day since July 11, 2024, and it’s something I genuinely look forward to each morning. It’s a lot of entries!

I remember wanting to "be a writer" for decades. While I may not be a renowned author, I’m proud of my practice. Writing daily has become part of my legacy, and I’m proud to show up for it every single day.

So, I invite you to ask yourself the same question and relish in the feeling: What are you proud of that you usually don’t get to talk about?