I love this question and think it's important to remember that stuttering is just one aspect of who we are as individuals. Yes, traits like making eye contact, smiling, listening, and being a good friend/lover/son/anything can certainly compensate for our stuttering. However, it's important to note that stuttering can still be a challenge and can impact our daily lives, even if we have these positive traits. It's not always possible to compensate for our stuttering, and that's okay. We should strive to accept and embrace ourselves for who we are, stuttering and all. That's why I started a stuttering community for professionals who stutter called Stutter Freely. It's a safe space where we can come together, share our experiences, and support each other. It's completely free to join, and we welcome anyone who stutters ([www.stutterfreely.com](http://www.stutterfreely.com)). Through this community, this reddit thread, and other stuttering support groups, we can learn to accept ourselves, build confidence, and empower each other to live our best lives. Cheers to personal growth!