It feels like almost everything today makes people choose a side.

A news story. A company. A famous person. A political point of view. Even a simple talk with friends can turn into an argument about who is right.

People are often rewarded for being loud and confident. Anger spreads quickly, especially on social media. Listening to someone with a different opinion can seem weak, and changing your mind can feel like losing.

Because of this, people talk more but understand each other less.

I think the answer is not getting everyone to agree...it's learning how to disagree without treating each other like enemies. (BTW, which is what our founding fathers intended...)

We do not all have to think the same way to move forward. We just have to be willing to listen, ask questions, change our minds sometimes, and respect each other when the conversation is over.

That may be one of the hardest things to do right now and one of the most important.