Be the Best Part of Someone’s Day
In a future of shrinking human moments, presence is your power
Dear Curious Human,
We’re entering a future where real human connection is becoming a luxury.
Think about it.
This past week, I spent nearly 7 hours a day on my phone. Some of that was texting real friends and doing actual work.
But a lot of it? Just…consuming. Scrolling. “Engaging with content.”
I even caught myself checking my YouTube analytics while my wife was telling me about a tough day at work. Yikes…
We’re starting to outsource our thoughts to ChatGPT, our art to Midjourney, and soon, our voices to AI agents. And in the process, we’re forgetting something essential:
Connection isn’t clicking. It’s presence.
Being there. Fully. With another person. Giving them your whole attention. And that kind of presence is disappearing.
That’s a problem.
Because 100 years of research tells us the same thing: the best thing you can do for your mental and physical health is connect with another human being.
It doesn’t have to be deep. Even a 60-second chat with your barista can shift your mood.
Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky puts it like this:
“If someone were to ask me what’s the one thing you could do tomorrow to be happier, that’s my answer: have a conversation with someone, or a deeper one than you usually do.”
In a world that’s automated, optimized, and impersonal, presence isn’t just a soft skill.
It’s resistance.
To a system designed to corrupt our focus. Monetize our attention. Keep us reachable but never present.
And most of us (me included) are caught in it.
We chase relevance with strangers while tuning out the people in front of us. We scroll past the very moments our minds crave. We’re so focused on saying the perfect thing, we forget to say anything real.
Presence Is the Defining Skill of the Future
In the AI era, the people who thrive won’t be the ones generating the most content or mastering the latest tech.
They’ll be the ones who make others feel seen.
Presence is what cuts through digital noise. What separates you from the generic. What makes you unforgettable. Because anyone can generate AI slop.
Very few can create a moment that lingers.
We’ve been taught that making an impact means being impressive. But usually, it just means being interested.
Curiosity brings us back to the present. It lets us drop the performance and tune into the moment.
Curiosity invites connection. And connection changes everything.
Ask yourself this:
“What if the most radical thing I could do…was to be the best part of someone else’s day?”
Not by fixing anything. Not by having the right words. But by showing up. Fully.
That kind of presence is rare. Which makes it powerful.
The people who know how to do this (who can drop in, tune in, and stay) aren’t just great friends. They’re the ones others want to build with. Work with. Stay close to.
It’s not your resume. Or your follower count.
It’s whether someone feels safe, seen, and supported in your presence.
That’s the real currency of this next era.
3 Human Skills AI Can’t Touch
1. Focused Attention
What it is: Undivided awareness.
How to practice it:
Put your phone away.
Make eye contact.
Let silence breathe. Really take in what they’ve shared.
2. Emotional Honesty
What it is: Being real about what you feel.
How to practice it:
Replace “I’m fine” with something true.
Share one real moment from your day.
If someone moves you, say so. (Psychologists call this “radical genuineness.”)
3. Unexpected Human Moments
What it is: Interactions machines can’t replicate.
How to practice it:
Laugh together. Walk together. Eat together.
Send a voice note, FaceTime, or show up IRL.
Linger longer than you planned. Be spontaneous together.
The future doesn’t belong to the most optimized. It belongs to the most human.
So…what would it look like to give someone the kind of attention they didn’t even know they were starving for?
Your move:
Choose one person today. And when you’re with them, remind yourself:
“For the next few minutes, nothing exists but this.”
What shifts? What opens? What becomes possible?
I’d love to hear what you discover.
Boldly go,
Dr. Ali
P.S. Social anxiety can make this kind of connection feel scary. I get it. That’s why I put together a short 3-part series to help you ease in.