Troubleshoot
Austin, TX | 2025 © Alicia Kae Miller
The last time I visited my Dad, Eric, he asked me if I wanted to take anything with me as I readied to return home. I said, "yes," as I held out the mug that I was sipping coffee from and pointed to the companion dish set that had long captured my attention.
His response, a subtle nod, accompanied by a generous offer to take one piece and verbal assurance that just like a fairy tale, "my wish would eventually come true" at a later date.
Unbeknownst to me at that time, that day came much sooner than I anticipated.
As the quiet of his absence further awakens me and settles in, I was delighted to learn recently that the coveted stoneware I had requested a handful of summers ago was well on its way to Austin from the Great State of Idaho.
When the package arrived, I could tell by the sounds emanating from the box that some, but fingers crossed not all, of the coveted M.A. Hadley collection was damaged either before or during its multiple-state crossing.
In between sorting through the broken pieces and thinking about what I might create with them, I hopped on the old Google machine. As I scanned multiple websites, I was relieved to find that most of the items were still available for purchase.
At that moment, it occurred to me how fragile the perception of our relationships can be, especially during times of conflict when the appearance of our bond to one another seems shattered.
Still, if we allow ourselves to get up close and personal, much like broken pottery, we realize that not all relationships are truly lost. By promoting empathy and leadership that transforms culture from within, the perceived fractures in our lives, work, and community become reenvisioned through a mutual willingness to listen and learn rather than respond.
Until we meet again, let's refine our empathy skills by making room for them in our conversations. ❤️
Yours in Solidarity, -akm
November 2025