Such a thoughtful and thought-provoking piece, Michelle. Again I regret that there's no option of meeting over a coffee (or tea and cake?) and pursuing some of those thoughts.

I do not so much mind a clear statement of discovery. I am drawn toward the reflection as much as the narrative, but I assume that this is not what all want. I agree that the reader needs space to breathe, by which I hear, room for their own interpretive movements. But I want clearly to know what the authorial "I" learned.

I doubt you intended this, but you censured over 50% of the writing on Medium. Not that I'll stop reading it, but much of what I read is straightforward exposition of an experience, or a straight line drawn between experience and a lesson learned. Probably my own writing, too. I'll take your words into account as I write my next reflective essay, to be sure.

Last, to be a little contrarian, I am trying to ask more questions of others not because I am empathetic, but because I want to cultivate that quality. By nature I am one who will tell you about job, life, joys, woes, until your eyes glaze. I think it is good for me to learn to listen and to care.

Brilliant and eloquent, as always.