Beneath colour, class, and creed, we descend from the same essence of humanity. Our ability to connect, empathise, and collaborate is what makes us human. From the earliest gatherings, we sat together to share stories, make sense of our world, and imagine what might come next. Progress has never belonged solely to domination or war; it has been shaped equally by debate, cooperation, and care.
I believe we need a return to stories. Once, we learned through conversation around the fire - hearing, questioning, and deepening our understanding through difference. Today, algorithms and echo chambers often replace dialogue with division. Social media offers vast communities yet limits true connection, filtering away discomfort, nuance, and the contemplative exchange that helps us grow.
We’ve also lost this practice with ourselves. In a world of constant noise and curated perfection, we often forget how to listen inwardly. To remember our discernment, we must return to our inner fireside - to hear our own stories, to sense what is true in our bones.
The stories of others act as both mirror and window: they help us see ourselves more clearly while expanding our empathy toward lives unlike our own. Through shared storytelling, we remember how to think, feel, and evolve together. That is how we restore the essence of our humanity.
