Circle Practice

When Starbucks introduced order-ahead, I fought it — one more way to lose the human moment. Years later, I use it too. But this morning, a barista's genuine "welcome in" and a few seconds of real conversation reminded me what we're quietly trading away for convenience. Life moves fast, and our tolerance for connection has waned — even though it's what helps us thrive. Here's what I'm learning about choosing connection on purpose, and why circle is part of the answer.

We can sit across from someone in a meeting or over dinner and never really see them—never take the time to look and take in the whole energy of their being. We've been operating this way for so long that slowing down to look, to observe, feels unnatural. But it isn't. It's uncomfortable not because it's wrong, but because we've forgotten how natural it is—and how much we need it. So, what happens when we slow down, lock eyes, and truly see?