The Question That Built My Life's Work

I used to think my curiosity was a little excessive.

I know how the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel was built. I know how many times the Centaur upper stage of a rocket has flown. I know that BIPOC women are being sterilized against their will right now, often without informed consent. None of that is exactly small talk. But it's how my mind works, and it took me a while to understand why.

When I decided to start providing parents and caregivers with information about bullying and confidence building, I made a deliberate choice. I would speak to people the way I'd speak to a family member who needed to feel empowered, not the way a pamphlet talks to a stranger. That choice didn't come from a marketing strategy. It came from my own childhood.

As a kid, my mother needed resources that exist today but simply weren't available to her then. And as I grew into adulthood, I kept discovering information I'd never had access to growing up. Every single time, the same question showed up: why had no one shared this with me?

That question never really left. It turned me into someone who researches everything, sometimes well past the point of necessity. But it also became the foundation of how I work with families and organizations today.

Here's the part that matters most. The thing that helps me help people isn't a framework or a script. It's listening. Once I understand what someone actually needs, whether that's a parent trying to understand their school's bullying policy or an organization trying to build a more inclusive culture, I go to work finding the resource that fits. I've surprised myself more than once, finding help that I had no idea existed. The information is usually out there somewhere. Most people just don't have the time, the access, or the know-how to find it.

That gap is where I live and work.

It feels incredible to help people close that gap. It has given me a real sense of purpose, and if I'm honest, it feels like giving back to a younger version of myself. Helping people feels like giving back to little Dali, who could have used this information to make better or different choices.

I want to be clear about one thing. I'm not saying my life didn't turn out well. It turned out incredible. This isn't a story about regret. It's a story about wanting to pay it forward, one family and one organization at a time.

If any of this sounds familiar, whether you're a parent navigating a tough situation, an educator trying to do right by your students, or a leader trying to build something more inclusive, I'd love to stay connected with you. My weekly newsletter, Thursday Thoughts, is where I share real talk, real tools, and a few real laughs every week. You can sign up at https://www.DaliTalks.com/newsletter.

If you're not sure what resources exist for the challenge you're facing, that question is exactly the kind I love sitting with. Reach out anytime at dalitalks@gmail.com.

And if this story felt true to your own experience, pass it along to someone who might need to hear it today.