In an ideal world, it’s always clear what kind of behavior is acceptable and what’s not. But in reality, things are different. What feels like an innocent compliment to one person may come across as too personal or inappropriate to another. What makes one person laugh might cause someone else to withdraw. Why? Because boundaries are personal – and therefore can’t be universally defined.
Everyone sets their own boundaries. Sometimes, you only realize afterward that something affected you. Sometimes, you immediately feel that a comment or action wasn’t okay, but don’t feel safe enough to speak up. And sometimes, that boundary shifts from day to day – depending on your mood, experiences, or environment. That’s exactly what makes it a grey area.
The grey area isn’t black and white, right or wrong. It’s about interpretation and feeling. And that’s precisely why it’s so important to take each other seriously. Not to wait until something escalates, but to create space for conversation. Not to attack someone, but to foster understanding.
Because within that grey area also lies an opportunity: to get to know each other better, to shift the culture, to treat one another more consciously. By asking, “How did that come across?” or saying, “I’m not sure if that’s how you meant it, but it didn’t feel good to me.”
Boundaries don’t have to be rigid to be respected. And respect begins with listening – even if you don’t immediately understand. The grey area isn’t a no-man’s-land. It’s the space where we have the chance to grow, together.
