I don’t always feel like I fit neatly into a box. I’ve joked before that “you need to be a little bit insane to be a good developer,” and while that’s said with a smile, there’s truth in it. Thinking back to the talk about accommodating neurodivergence in the workplace, I don’t feel the need for a diagnosis, but I know I’m not entirely typical.

When it comes to wider conversations like feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, inclusivity, I support these movements, even though I don’t always feel like I fully understand the lived experiences of the communities involved. Sometimes that leaves me unsure of how to engage, or whether I should at all.

I sometimes wonder if people standing outside the Umbraco community feel the same, even if the scope and weight of their experience isn’t quite the same. When and how to engage in community are hard questions. At least for me. Yet it is inspiring to be part of a, by contrast, small community that through its actions and rituals, makes bigger movements; the previously metioned heavy-hitters, seem approachable and understandable to someone looking in from the outside.

What I’ve learned through Umbraco, though, is that kindness gives us a way forward. It’s not about having the perfect stance on every issue, or drawing lines about what’s “too much” or “not enough.” Kindness invites us to give space, to let others be, and to remain curious.

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The Culture of Kindness