Connection
Observing Hope 10.6.2025
Dear friends,
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what actually creates connection in our lives. Where we find connection, how we nurture it, why that matters.
This week brought reminders of why human moments of connection matter more than I sometimes appreciate—from sitting at Dodger Stadium surrounded by strangers singing about peanuts, to conversations with a teacher about students finding solace in stargazing. There’s something about realizing that the antidote to loneliness isn’t more sophisticated technology, but simpler human rituals that recalibrates everything.
Sometimes the most profound insight comes from recognizing that what we’re actually craving is the kind of connection our ancestors had—looking up at the same sky, sharing the same traditions, being present together.
The technology changes, but our need for each other doesn’t have to.
With my eyes on the stars and hope in my heart,
Emma
In My Library
Books and words that showed up exactly when I needed them. The passages I’ve underlined twice and why they might be exactly what you need right now too.
September ended with 15 books read. There were a few notable 5 star reads including:
Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid 📚 A gorgeous book about the importance of free speech, the trials of academia, and the beauty of love. This book took a place on my top 5 books of all time list.
Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown 📚A classic Dan Brown book. More understandable than his last one which delved into crypto. Read it in one weekend. Would recommend.
The Icon and the Idealist by Stephanie Gorton 📚 A fascinating book that had me pausing to share facts I was learning about the history of birth control around the world and the founding of Planned Parenthood in the US. In my opinion, this book should be required reading for anyone trying to understand narratives around reproduction and bodily autonomy today.
I am currently reading To the Moon and Back (perfect for fans of TJR’s Atmosphere), Alchemy of Secrets (I am obsessively reading books set in LA since moving here. Thanks to BOTM for the early release copy), and The Poppy War (taking this one in spurts because it is intense).
|glim mer | noun a moment in your day that makes you feel hope, peace, joy, or gratitude
The moments, stories, and discoveries that made me pause this week. The kind of good news I’d text you about immediately because it’s too smile inducing not to share.
Last week my fiance and I went to the Reds vs. Dodgers playoff game at Dodger Stadium. He is a huge Reds fan and loves baseball to his core. I love him and enjoy a fun outing, but full transparency, I did bring a book. He said he would not be embarrased if I read it as long as they were losing by more than 8 runs (spoiler alert: they were for much of the game). In spite of that, I actually didn’t pull out my book the whole game. I was mesmerized by the beautiful stadium with the palm trees and the mountains framing the game.
I have developed an appreciation for baseball, and especially all of the traditions around it. My favorite part of every game we go to is the 7th inning stretch when everyone rises, wraps their arms around their neighbor, and sings about peanuts and ball games together. It’s such a moment of unity, camaraderie, and connection. In the midst of brutal rivalries, deep emotions, and high energy, everyone pauses and sings and it’s beautiful.
As it turns out, there is a somewhat sordid and deeply impactful history of how Dodger Stadium was built. I bought City of Dreams, a book about this story and so far the review has been “the right mix of history and baseball”.
On My Mind
Questions I’m sitting with and thoughts that won’t leave me alone. The stuff I’d bring up at a coffee chat.
There are these new billboards popping up all over LA and NYC this month advertising Friend.com. The idea is a wearable LLM model chatbot that you talk to as a friend. The website talks about the wearable as a roommate and best bud that goes everywhere with you and stores your shared memories. The company is flooding the ad world with marketing targetting young people.
Now, some context here: In 2023, the US Surgeon General warned that there was an epidemic of loneliness. And social disconnection is associated with an increased risk of not only depression, anxiety, and suicide, *and* heart disease, dementia, stroke, and premature death. According to data from Harvard Graduate School of Education, the people who have the highest rates of loneliness are young adults. They’re people in their 20s and 30s.
Loneliness is a problem but oh my gosh AI is not the solution. Real meaningful connection is the solution. Human connection.
This week I talked to a teacher who was brought to tears talking about her students feeling lonely during the pandemic. But do you know what helped them? What made her emotional to talk about? Looking at the stars together.
The stars have always been a source of connection. Think of the romance novel concept of looking at the same sky at the same time. The idea that our ancestors saw the same moon and stars. The persistence and consistency of our magnificent sky.
We don’t find friends by retreating into technology. Technology can create connection but only if there are humans on the other end.
One Small Action
A simple practice that’s helping me right now. The kind of gentle nudge I’d give if we were walking side by side through whatever you’re facing.
In the spirit of connection and the night sky, go outside this week and look at the moon. The first supermoon of the year is happening on October 6th. Every person on the planet can see it without any special equipment. Call your friend or your family and go look outside together at the moon shining above us.