Finding Common Ground: A Hopeful Vision for the New Year

I have a morning routine. It begins at 5 AM with a cup of coffee and some quiet time to ground myself. A second cup of coffee marks the start of my daily scan through several newspapers—BBC, CBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the San Diego Union-Tribune—along with my main social media feeds: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and, more recently, Blue Sky. By the time my second cup is empty, I’m ready to dive into the day ahead.

I cherish this routine. Maybe you have one you hold dear, too. Mine has been a steady anchor in my life, especially over the past six or seven years, which have been marked by a sense of peace and purpose. It’s the only time of day I allow myself to read and reflect on the news. But lately, this once-calming ritual has begun to stir anxiety instead. The more I read, the heavier it feels. What used to be a time of renewal is slowly becoming a source of stress.

This shift in my experience aligns with the end-of-year commentary I’ve been encountering. Media outlets are busy summarizing the past year and forecasting what lies ahead. Yet, so often, these narratives are steeped in divisive language—hate, conflict, and culture wars. I can’t help but wonder: don’t people ever grow tired of this constant negativity and division?

Hate sells. It really does. People are drawn to it, and it festers in the algorithms that shape our online experiences. But we must rise above this toxic pull. We need to create and nurture spaces where peace and shared humanity take center stage.

For me, that space has long been independent schools and colleges—the professional world I’ve chosen to serve. These institutions stand as havens of optimism, inclusion, and community. They welcome diverse perspectives while firmly rejecting hate, violence, and discrimination. Within their walls, we see both the fragility of humanity and the strength that emerges when people come together in community.

Humans need one another. We find meaning, connection, and compassion through relationships. As much as I adore dogs (and trust me, they fill my social media feeds), it’s people and relationships that help me become my best self.

But finding spaces of peace and shared connection feels increasingly challenging. Even my beloved morning routine has been clouded by the content I choose to consume. I need to better curate what I allow into my consciousness. Similarly, schools and colleges have historically been places that cultivate human connection and a sense of community. My hope for the new year is that these institutions will continue to celebrate our shared bonds and foster environments of unity and mutual support.

We need these places because, as humans, we need each other. Our relationships and connections are what enable us to thrive—not just as individuals, but as a species. Let’s strive to protect and nurture these spaces in the year ahead.