It often feels like our world is tearing apart at the seams — one moment we’re angry, scared and divided; the next moment we find ourselves drawn together in common cause when a tragedy strikes.

• In Uvalde, complete strangers rushed toward the pain, offering hands, shoulders, shared tears.

• In El Paso, ordinary people became heroes in a Walmart, rising above fear.

• During Harvey, flooded streets became rivers of humanity — boats of all kinds cutting through brown, rising water to rescue anyone in need.

• Amidst gunfire in Las Vegas, people pushed wheelchairs and carried strangers to to safety.

• Kerville overflowed with floods of helping hands and compassion after tragic losses and devastation.

• And, always, when tragedy strikes, funds flood in — millions raised in hours — as our hearts and souls are touched.

  
  

These moments—terrible as they are—reveal something deep within us: a universal humane connection. In these moments, we breathe a collective sigh of relief at our own compassion.

And we hope against hope that this togetherness outlasts the fires, the bullets, the storms.

But we fear that the hard truth is...

that we collectively tap into that depth only when horrific events pull us there. And when the storms end, so do many of the connections. Our divisions — fueled by social media, by echo chambers, by fear — pull us back apart.

What If We Could Choose That Connection?

This is where the Culture Bump Approach™  offers a lifeline.

Culture Bump™  theory reminds us that that our separation from others isn't a failure—it's part of our humanity. But the same theory reassures us that we can learn to choose differently.

We can choose connection—intentionally, in everyday conversations and actions.

We can learn how to choose connection—with small but powerful steps.

For nearly five decades, the Culture Bump Approach™  has given people of all ages, cultures, and belief systems a practical guide for bridging their differences. At the heart of the approach is a simple tool: 8 Steps that lead to Conversations for Connection.

And a simple list of DOS & DON'Ts has emerged from their experiences.

The Culture Bump DOs & DON’Ts for Connecting Across Differences

1. With people you disagree with…

• ✅ Do: Pinpoint a specific incident — “someone said this,” or “someone did that.” Then, together, identify a universal situation hidden beneath the conflict.

• ❌ Don’t: Dive into debating the issue before agreeing on the situation itself. Pause.

  
  

2. With people who agree with you…

• ✅ Do: Name your emotions—fear, anger, sadness, hope—and share them.

• ❌ Don’t: Assume you’re right just because others echo your feelings. Validation matters more than certainty.

  
  

3. Moving forward with people you agree with…

• ✅ Do: Brainstorm what resolving that universal situation might look like. What are possible solutions? What would it actually mean if it happened?

• ❌ Don’t: Settle for vague ideals. Aim for concrete, honest possibilities.

  
  

4. Return to those with whom you disagree…

• ✅ Do: Ask them to share their meaning—how they experience the situation, what values they see in their solutions.

• ❌ Don’t: Rush back into debate before both sides have truly listened and felt heard.

  
  

After the bullets stop flying, after the floods recede, we intuitively return to our own little worlds.

However, the Culture Bump™ Approach shows that connection doesn’t have to be crisis-driven. It can be chosen daily, cultivated in how we listen, speak, and step into one another’s worlds.

For those who believe in hope, empathy, and shared humanity, Culture Bump provides more than inspiration — it provides a path to building bridges.

👉 Discover the Culture Bump Approach. Explore your own Conversations for Connection at CultureBump.com/copy-of-books..

Watch seven individuals from very different backgrounds discover common ground beyond their divisions.

You have a vision for a better world—Culture Bump has the tools to get there.