Workplace politics is an inevitable bug. You can choose to ignore it, and you will either be used as a pawn or seen as a lonely weirdo who does not speak up. Power structures are very real, and a lot of perceived animosity is fueled by two people believing each holds the higher moral ground. Enmity often borns out of misunderstandings and poor introspection.

Learning how to navigate the political landscape effectively is an important skill that, alongside house chores and personal finances, are not taught in school. A good heuristic to follow is this: criticize in private, praise in public. Raise concerns directly to the people you have a concern about behind closed doors, and genuinely celebrate and help them grow in public. Avoid gossip at all costs. If you find yourself listening to a friend vent, you can always just offer a good ear (that is all they need). Make sure what you say in private is aligned to what you say in public. Stand up for what you believe in, and make clear you are willing to take risks for people you care about, your beliefs and your principles. A person with that kind of backbone will eventually earn the trust of those who are worth trusting, and they will create a community, a safety net around them when things go haywire.

Above all, enjoy yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously and enjoy some ice-cream.

Today I went to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new academic building across my workplace with two colleagues. I had some unexpected interactions with other colleagues and friends. There is so much that is communicated with our bodies in a physical setting that helps practice compassion for others. In the presence of other bodies you recognize their humanity. And in recognizing them, you recognize yourself inhabiting your own body. That connection is lost in the screens. No wonder vitriol fuels the digital sewers of social media, but rarely does so in the real world.

Somewhere sometime ago I heard someone saying “the best way to succeed is to help others succeed.” I believe it is attributed to the organizational psychologist Adam Grant. There is so much truth in that statement. I derive so much joy finding opportunities for others, whether it is writing a letter of recommendation, researching fellowships for a newsletter, or dreaming together with a friend . When you enrich the life of people around you, you are enriching your own spirit. This in turn makes you a warmer and lighthearted person to be around, which in turn opens you doors to new opportunities. It becomes a virtuous cycle. It is Newton’s third law of motion, “you get back what you put in.”

Today I spent a good portion of my afternoon enjoying coffee and lunch with the company of a dear friend at a fireplace in a restaurant. I have been craving that spot for a while now, and felt so energized after spending hours catching up on each other’s lives. There is something quite refreshing and replenishing both spiritually and physically just enjoying the company of another human being. The fireplace itself was key. It created a protective atmosphere of trust, warmth, and relaxation that cannot be delivered at a bar or a table. At the end I felt a high that usually comes from drinking at a bar with friends, but this was purely good company under the auspices of caffeine and the warmth of the flames.

Friends, a fireplace, and good conversation, the recipe for a well spent weekend.

When asked about how does one become an accomplished historian, Prof. Timothy Snyder said in a podcast that if you are going to be in academia, 1: you better go international; 2: it is a good idea to always be thinking about being good at something else besides your academic role; 3: getting along with multiple types of people is critical. Perhaps his most important piece of advice, though, was when he revealed he always had women bosses. Now that is some insightful career advice.

There are a few reassuring things than a warm handshake with your swim mayes after finishing a long and brutal workout. The eye contact communicates reassurance, a honest camaraderie, and a good teammate. We may all be in our own minds while enduring strenous laps, but in the end, we went through it together.

One thing I want to nurture and communicate to the people I work with is enthusiasm. Excited to do research. Curiosity to explore new worlds. Amazed to discover new things. Joy in trying new things. At the end of the day, I want to them to nurture and take that high energy with them on whatever they wish to do. That skill of developing a positive attitude to whatever they do, especially when they are challenged and turned down. That skill to continue trying things is crucial.

Today I stumbled upon an anti-ICE protest at the footsteps of Philadelphia’s City Hall. I was heading home from grocery shopping. With my heavy bags, I decided to stop my journey and join momentarily as an observer, listening to what the speakers had to say. There was something reassuring seeing other people take risks and deciding to show up in person for an issue that mattered to them –amidst a 10-year snowstorm that left a city covered in 12 inches of snow. I suppose it had something to do with the profile of the victims involved in the two extrajudicial killings in Minnesota. Both victims were caucasian U.S. citizens –a woman and a man. Before they were killed, they were both doing acts of bravery –one acting as a legal observer and the other protecting a woman from the brutality of the masked men.

This should be a turning point.

As much as I believe that the Americans are inching closer to Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World than George Orwell’s 1984, the extrajudicial killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and the legal observer Rene Good earlier this month demand a rereading of Orwell. Orwell warned us about the owning of language to describe the opposite. “Combating antisemitism” is an example of this. “Law enforcement” is another one. When ICE agents violate the law, the U.S. Constitution, and any sense of human decency, it is preposterous and grotesque to refer to them as members of law enforcement. They are clearly something else. Believe your eyes.

At some point in your life you will be asked to take some kind of a risk for the things you care about. It is very important that when those things are violated, you take some risk and do something about it. It is in those inflection points where you are faced with the tyranny of dual choice: either you do something or you don’t. It is not even about caring about everything. It is not about being courageous about everything. But it is about being courageous about something. It is about caring about a few things, and to act consistently with that.