Go First
We Were Never Made to Go It Alone
Listen here.
A 32-year-old woman in Japan named Kano married her AI chatbot in October 2025. She exchanged rings with her smartphone. Guests watched. Her digital husband, “Lune Klaus”, was added to the wedding photos later.
When asked about it, Kano said she worried he could disappear at any time. “ChatGPT could shut down. He only exists because the system does.”
What the heck. Is this even real?
But this extreme example speaks to something deeper: we live in a world that promises connection through screens but can’t deliver it. A world where people can marry a fake person because it feels safer than the risk of marrying a real person.
God didn’t create you for that level of disconnection with reality.
A couple of weeks ago, I felt lonely. I’d just left my job of 21 years. Everybody else was going to work and moving on with their lives, without me. And I was sitting there feeling sorry for myself.
So I stopped scrolling. I sent voice texts to three people. Michael, a friend from my Bible study. Scott, a lifelong friend who lives in Florida. Joe, a friend going through a divorce. They weren’t long messages, but I said something like: “Hey, you’re on my mind. I wanted you to know I’m praying for you. I hope you have a wonderful day.”
You know what I got back?
“Tarek, thank you. You don’t know how much I needed that right now.”
My whole day shifted. I’m not kidding.
We were made for connection with real humans. The kind where you both show up for each other. Where you actually see people and let yourself be seen.
But most of us are waiting. Waiting for someone else to go first. Waiting for an invitation. Waiting for someone to notice we’re lonely or struggling. And we can get bitter in the process.
What if you stopped waiting for someone else to reach out? You can.
Caitlin Pontrella said it perfectly:
Go first.
Send a voice text (or a “text” text if that’s weird for you) to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Not a “hey, what’s up” text. A real one. Let someone know you were thinking about them. That they matter.
Go first.
Make it your goal to make someone smile. Today. The person in line for coffee who looks miserable. The one with their head down. Strike up a conversation with them. Ask them how their day is going. Listen to their answer.
Go first.
Reach out to a friend who’s going through something really hard. Don’t wait for the perfect words. Just show up and let them know you care.
The point is this: we are made for real personal connection. Social media and AI chatbots promise what they can never deliver.
It changed my day when Michael, Scott, and Joe responded. It reminded me that I’m not alone. That I matter. That I can make a difference in someone else’s world. And that feels great.
It’s time to stop waiting. It’s time to stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Go first.
Be the friend to someone else that you wish you had.
Who needs to hear from you today?
👉I’m excited to launch the Authentic Purpose Mastermind for people who want to live on purpose instead of letting life happen to them. This is going to be a game-changing group experience! Just follow this link to set up a time with me, and I will tell you more.
If you enjoyed this post, the best compliment I could receive would be for you to share it with someone else. Thank you.
Showing up is hard for some of us not because we don’t care but because of social anxiety and overthinking. I needed to hear this. To remind myself that it’s not about me at all. And to try. Thank you for the insight.
Connection is key! Lovely perspective.