As we stampede headfirst into a brand-new year, the word connection feels like both a goal and a gift.

Connection, at its genuine and sometimes messy best, keeps us grounded and growing. Connections are in the conversations where we feel truly seen, the moments when we laugh so hard we wheeze, and yes, the awkward but beautiful discomfort of sitting with someone in their pain. Connection isn’t always Instagrammable, but it means everything.

In 2025, what if we embraced more of that kind of connection? Not the performative kind that feels like a quick wave in the cereal aisle, but more small, intentional acts that create real bridges. Like texting that friend you’ve been “meaning to call” since last January. Sharing a story that cracks open just enough vulnerability to say, “Me too.” Or admitting, “I don’t have it all together, and I could really use some help.”

Connection doesn’t need to be showy; it just needs to be authentic. And the magic? It ripples. One moment of feeling validated and seen can shift a day, a life, or maybe even a world.

So, let’s make this the year we prioritize connection, one soul at a time. Who knows? It might just be the best gift we give ourselves.