Human Bureaucracy (not an oxymoron)

A first post!

When does anything really begin? If you trace it back far enough, maybe the big bang, right? This Substack is part of a slightly shorter personal journey. For years, I’ve thrived in the bureaucratic, rule-bound environments of government. I’ll admit, I love the structure, purpose, and delusions of grandeur of it all. But as my life inside bureaucracy has unfolded, so has another part of me: my discovery of emotions and meditation.

I’ve not only read Brene Brown, I’ve learned to be vulnerable and connect with my heart, not just my head. I’ve not only practiced mindfulness but have become a meditation facilitator at work and in my DC community. And I’ve come to see that my silly jokes about being an emotionless robot—and not showing up as my full self—were actually holding me back from being the best friend, family member, and yes, colleague I could be.

Why this, why now?

Workplaces are made of people. People have emotions. And yet, in so many ways, we’re told to leave those emotions at the door. The problem is, we can’t—and we shouldn’t.

This Substack is born from that realization. With AI advancing and reshaping workplaces, now is the perfect time to dig deeper into the human side of things. I’ve written about these topics before, including emotions in the workplace, authenticity, the need to take breaks, work-life integration, and the value of genuine appreciation at work and this has reaffirmed that there is a growing hunger in people to bring their whole selves to work.

The pandemic, hybrid work, and societal shifts have shown that emotions, vulnerability, and connection aren’t just personal anymore—they’re essential to building thriving organizations. We can’t afford to keep our humanity on the sidelines. This Substack is a contribution to that mission.

What kind of community am I looking to build here?

This is a space for real conversations about work—about what it means to be human in systems that often feel cold, impersonal, and transactional. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt like their emotions don’t belong at work, who’s tired of putting on a professional mask, and who believes we can build better workplaces by embracing, not suppressing, our humanity.

We’ll explore questions like:

• How can we make room for emotions in the workplace without letting them take over?

• How can leaders create environments that foster vulnerability and connection?

• What practices—like mindfulness, emotional regulation, and authentic relating—can help us navigate the complexity of work?

• How we can create community around this counterculture to do work differently, show up as the imperfectly perfect selves we are, and help others do the same?

Let’s Build a (Human) Bureaucracy Together

I hope you won’t just follow this Substack but join the conversation with your own thoughts and ideas. I’m only able to do this because of the empathetic, kind, and incredible colleagues I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from. So let’s create a new “human bureaucracy”—one where red tape takes a back seat to real connection and heart, and where we can say “love” in the workplace without irony.

Join me, and let’s bring some humanity back to work—and maybe even find some joy along the way. 🤖💃