Providing shelter, whatever that means for you

I decided to straighten up a bit this evening, as my bedside books and papers had once again tiptoed away from their pile. As I was sorting, I found a half-folded sheet where I'd scribbled a quote. I'd forgotten about it, though it was pretty recently that I heard it.

The quote was mentioned in the context of writing, and in creating the type of work that is vulnerable, revelatory and raw. A refuge in words. However, given all that is happening before our eyes, I feel that it can also be applied to society today, and to the unity and allyship that I have been seeing across America and across the world:

"We build a structure out of our own discomfort so that others might take shelter there."— Claire Dederer