Jordan Harbinger

Adam and I bonded over Formula One and food.

He often asks me for Mexican recipes.

Brian is hilarious.

He loves South Park, and we exchange silly reels and work-related gifts.

Tom and I connected over our shared love of Harry Potter.

Joe is extremely quiet.

Our interactions are strictly work-related.

And then there's Bob.

Bob is shy and socially awkward.

At first, I didn't particularly like him.

He often gave unsolicited advice and came across as overly righteous.

He used to be a serious runner, and when I told him that I signed up for a half marathon, he began offering tips and encouragement.

That's how we started talking more.

A few weeks into training, I experienced exercise-induced anxiety, where my body misinterpreted normal physical reactions like a fast heartbeat as danger.

I mentioned this to Bob and he shared that he struggles with anxiety as well.

He recommended a book that I had actually read years ago during a difficult period with my own anxiety.

That opened the door to deeper conversations about mental health and life struggles.

Through those discussions, I realized Bob and I were surprisingly similar and that he was funny too.

For the first time, I truly felt connected at work.

These weren't just superficial conversations anymore and that made me feel more confident and grounded.