What actually matters right now?

As a former ballerina and season ticket holder, Lauren says The arts are "critical," noting they also improve academic performance.

"Math and sports probably are the things that don't matter to me. It doesn't matter. My dad will be very upset. I come from Eagles territory, so culturally it matters, but not to me."

Avelyn believes travel matters: "I think it's super important to be, culturally aware of what's going on in the world and getting to see places firsthand."

Greg says Artificial intelligence "definitely matters" and is "unavoidable at this point." His organization uses it for grant proposals, foundation research, and reporting on the administrative side.

Amy says novel writing matters: "as a novelist you get to explore those gray areas... you get closer to the truth... it's a wonderful way to... go deeper. Look behind the curtain."

Mary is not a Pizza fan, simply stating "that doesn't matter."

Shoshana calls emotional intelligence "the heart of what I do." She believes it starts with knowing how we feel so we can connect and empathize with others.

For Cathy, storytelling "matters because it connects us on a deeper level" and "shares wisdom and helps us connect on a really deep level."

Avelyn says mental health super matters: "Life's a journey and being healthy and having people to help you through it is a big deal."

Alex Ranahan calls social media "an extension of ourselves... an opportunity to connect... as long as we remember it is to be used as a social tool as opposed to a social replacement."

Bianca says Dogs matter. As someone who lives alone, she values canine companionship, saying "it's really important to have a companion."

Lyndsey says dogs matter: "First of all, they're cute, and then second of all they're woman's best friends."

Marc Foreman says virtual reality matters: "The nature of reality itself is all about perception...I just see the whole world as almost a virtual canvas...you can interact with it and change it however you want."

Heather Johnson says politics do not matter: "I'm tired of it. I can't take it. I can't take one more. I didn't even watch the news. Can't do it."

Misty says novel matters because "novels are such an escape" and "if there wasn't reading or writing, the world would be a very boring place... everybody needs that."

Matthew says authenticity matters: "Just showing up and being who you are...if you do that every day...you're gonna have left the world a better place than you found it."

Anne Catherine Bedard says perfectionism matters "with a caveat" and advises, "done is better than perfect."

Geraldo declares Coffee "essential to life," recounting how even on a beautiful vacation morning, the one thing missing was "a cup of coffee."

Amanda is passionate about Neapolitan pizza: "Neopolitan Pizza for the win. Absolutely the best."

Barton says winter swimming "definitely matters. So good for mental health, so good for... the benefits."

Mary says Coffee matters: "I need that every day in the mornings. I love my coffee and I like it a certain way."

Laura values photography: "It's a fun way to keep the past and remember fun things and maybe not so fun things."

Entertainment matters to Alex because it builds connection, turns information into shared experience, and helps people engage, relax, and be present together.

Zarya thinks Burnout matters because she 'left medicine after years of training' and faced it again in motherhood, urging women to know 'you don’t have to do it all right now.'