In the U.S., “So what do you do?” is basically a handshake. And the moment you answer, people quietly file you into a mental drawer—salary range, social rank, usefulness, vibe. Add a diagnosis like sarcoidosis to the mix and suddenly you’re not even a person anymore, you’re a set of symptoms with a name tag. This is the story of how I learned to stop auditioning for other people’s categories—and how I keep choosing to be myself anyway, even when the world would rather label me than listen.
Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
Tate Basildon 