What would you do if you knew someone you loved was struggling?
Hi, I’m Omar, the founder and CEO of Kinnect. This blog is part of my "From Omar" series — a space where I share my reflections on family, relationships, and connection. These aren’t perfectly polished lessons. They’re raw, real thoughts about how I see the world and what I’m learning as I build Kinnect.
If you found out that someone you love — a family member, a close friend, or even someone you hadn’t talked to in a while — was feeling down, what would you do?
Most of us like to think we’d act immediately. We’d text them. We’d call. We’d check in. Some of us would even get in the car and drive straight to them.
But not everyone would.
Some people would hesitate. They’d tell themselves, “I don’t want to overstep,” or “Maybe they need space,” or even, “I wouldn’t know what to say.”
And I get that. It’s hard to know how to show up for people, especially when you’re not sure how they want you to show up. Sometimes it’s easier to avoid it altogether.
This is something I think about a lot as I build Kinnect. What does it look like to design a platform that helps people recognize moments when they can show up for each other? And more importantly, how do we make it feel okay for people to not know what to do — but still try anyway?
Why people don’t reach out (even when they care)
We’ve all been there. We see a post, hear a comment, or just sense that someone we love isn’t doing well. But instead of reaching out, we hesitate.
Why?
I think part of it is fear.
- Fear of saying the wrong thing.
- Fear of being too late.
- Fear of opening a conversation you’re not sure how to close.
But sometimes, it’s not fear. Sometimes it’s just that we’re tired. We’re dealing with our own stuff, and even though we love this person deeply, the thought of navigating their pain feels too heavy.
Other times, we tell ourselves “they’re fine” or “they’ll figure it out”. And that might be true. But it also might not be.
What I find interesting is that even if you do reach out, there’s no guarantee they’ll open up. People don’t always want to be vulnerable on a phone call. Sometimes they’re not ready. Sometimes it’s just not the right moment. And that’s okay too.
The gap between what we share and what we feel
One of the things I’ve noticed in relationships — and this includes family, friendships, and even romantic relationships — is that there’s always a gap between what we share and what we feel.
People don’t always tell you they’re feeling down.
They might hint at it.
They might joke about it.
Or they might not say anything at all.
And that’s the thing — you won’t always know. You won’t always catch it.
I think about this a lot when I’m building Kinnect. People are already sharing bits of their life online, but it’s always edited. It’s the highlight reel. It’s not real-time. It’s not vulnerable. It’s not “I’m having a rough week.”
But what if it could be?
What if Kinnect was a space where people could share that too? And what if you, as someone who’s connected to them, could get a signal — a nudge — that someone you love might need you right now?
Not in a dramatic, urgent way.
Not in a “drop everything” way.
But just in a “Hey, someone you care about might be feeling a little low right now. Do you want to check in?”
How Kinnect could help us check in with each other
Here’s a thought experiment:
Imagine you’re scrolling through Kinnect, and you see a message pop up that says:
“It looks like [Friend’s Name] might be feeling a little off this week. Want to check in?”
You’d have a few options:
- Send a message — Maybe it’s a quick text like, “Hey, just checking in on you. Hope you’re doing okay.”
- Call them later — You can set a reminder to call them when you’re free.
- Skip it — And honestly, that’s okay too. Not every signal requires action.
The point is, you’re given the option to check in. You have the power to decide.
But here’s the key part: Kinnect doesn’t just tell you they’re feeling low. It also tells you why.
Maybe it’s because they’ve shared stories about work stress.
Or maybe it’s because their recent posts show more reflection, more quiet moments, or even less engagement than usual.
And that’s the beauty of it. It’s not just about nudging you to check in — it’s about giving you context so you know how to check in.
Why this doesn’t exist yet
I know what you’re probably thinking:
“Isn’t this what Facebook, Instagram, or even Discord should be doing?”
But here’s the thing — we don’t trust them with this kind of information.
No one wants Facebook tracking their mental health.
No one wants Instagram analyzing their "mood" to sell them more ads.
No one wants an ad-driven platform to know that much about them.
That’s why Kinnect is different. We’re invite-only. It’s your space. It’s private. It’s personal. And most importantly, we’re not building this for advertisers. We’re building it for you and your family.
Because sometimes you need a nudge.
Sometimes you need to know that someone you love is feeling off.
And sometimes, you just need to feel like you’re not alone.
The hard part about connection
Here’s the truth I’ve learned: Connection requires effort.
Even when you love someone, it takes effort to show up.
Even when you want to be there for them, it takes effort to reach out.
Even when you know they need you, it takes effort to figure out what to say.
But that’s the kind of effort I want to make easier. I want to reduce the friction. I want to give people tools to check in. Tools to ask better questions. Tools to be more present in their relationships.
Imagine if, instead of guessing how someone’s doing, you knew.
Imagine if you didn’t have to wonder, “Should I check in?” — because Kinnect just told you.
That’s the world I’m trying to build.
What i'm thinking about now
Right now, I’m thinking about the last time I saw a friend in person. We used to be in each other’s lives all the time. Then life happened. They had kids. I moved to a new city.
When we finally caught up, I realized I had missed so much of their life. And I didn’t even know it.
This happens all the time. Relationships shift. People grow. People change. And unless you’re there for it, you miss it.
I’m not saying we have to be present for every moment of someone’s life. That’s not realistic. But I do think we can be more intentional about the moments we do show up for.
I think that’s what I’m building Kinnect for. To give people more of those moments.
To help people see their loved ones a little more clearly.
To remind people to reach out when it matters.
To make sure that the people you love feel seen.
That’s it. That’s the whole point.
So, what would you do if you knew someone you loved was struggling?
Would you text them?
Call them?
Drive over?
Or would you do nothing?
All I know is, I want to be the person who does something.
abrazos,
omar
