Thanks for this piece, Michelle. In my younger years I had more trouble than most conforming to various ideologies or expectations, like religion, school cliques, and traditional gender expectations. It's much better now, after a handful of decades. To one of your points, in middle age I've found I'm more willing to defend my passions and various groups I belong to. Still, when I'm at work and upper management makes a dorky decision that affects the rest of us negatively, tact comes in handy.

Great topic!