On love, connection, and kindness

A few truths I've been holding onto:

1. Love is an act of courage and resistance.
2. The antidote to authoritarianism is connection.
3. Our acts of kindness and generosity, online or offline, have a ripple effect.

 
Here's why:
This year has already brought an overwhelming amount of violence and distressing global events - and it’s only February. This constant stream of troubling news can take a real toll on our emotional well‑being.
 
Chronic exposure to violence, whether direct or through media, activates our “fight, flight, or freeze” response. When the brain perceives the world as dangerous, it redirects energy toward survival — leaving less capacity for patience, empathy, and generosity. Chronic exposure to distressing events can also lead to compassion fatigue, where we feel numb or detached from the suffering of others.
 
And it’s by design. Staying informed matters, but we need to remember that because news outlets are designed to maximize our attention for profit, they often emphasize negative and sensational events. Without intentionally balancing what we consume, this constant exposure can distort our view of reality, heighten anxiety, and chip away at our sense of trust.
 
So how can we break the cycle?

Setting healthy boundaries around media consumption is one place to start. I’ve personally set timers for my social media apps and am trying to make it a habit to reach for a book — not my phone — in moments of boredom.

We've also got to intentionally seek out the good.  Curating our social media and entertainment can genuinely support emotional well‑being. Seeing stories of kindness has been shown to counteract the negative effects of consuming bad news. So let's seek out uplifting content, ask your friends or coworkers about their bright spots or what’s been bringing them joy, and practice random acts of kindness.​

Staying connected to supportive communities, family, and friends is next. It’s essential, but it also takes real effort – which may help explain why more than half of Americans identify as lonely and nearly three in five say no one truly knows them. Staying indoors won’t solve this. We have to push ourselves out of our comfort zones — so join that book club, take that fitness class, show up to your employer’s wellness events, and invite people over. Small acts of reaching out can create the connection we’re all craving — and remind us that the world is less frightening, and far more human, than it appears online.
 
And speaking of inviting people over...according to The Atlantic, America is in a party deficit. In a time when we’re so hungry for connection and community we have to be the ones who open the door and invite people in. And as Priya Parker reminds us, gatherings become meaningful when they have a clear purpose — when we’re intentional about why we’re bringing people together and what we hope the experience will create.
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For me, that purpose has been creativity.  Making something with your hands  — a card, a collage, a mobile, or my newest intrigue: neurographic art — is a powerful and accessible tool for managing anxiety, reducing stress, and connecting to the present moment. It provides a sense of agency in this chaotic world and is a great reason to gather. For the past two years, I’ve been hosting art parties — crafting DIY holiday gifts and, most recently, Valentines. Hosting these gatherings takes work (and requires childcare!), but for me, it’s been a way to honor my values and share light.
 
As Bad Bunny reminded us at the Super Bowl, “the only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Choosing love in a divided world takes courage — and none of us does it perfectly. I certainly don’t, especially as a parent, which is why I often return to Dr. Becky’s “good inside” philosophy and my practice of self-compassion. I also think that courage often begins inward — in treating ourselves with the same kindness we hope to offer the world. When we practice love, kindness, and connection — with ourselves and with others — we invite others to do the same. These are practices. They are choices. And they ripple — exactly what this moment needs.

What about you? What truths have you been holding onto as of late? What helps you stay positive and connected when the world feels overwhelming? What’s a gathering you’ve been craving — and what’s stopping you from initiating it? ​