Perched atop Vista Rock in Central Park, Belvedere Castle feels like something out of a storybook. Built in 1869, it wasn’t meant to house royalty but to offer something just as valuable—a view. To me, it’s a reminder that beauty and reflection often go hand in hand.

Today, many of us live in our own modern castles—high-rises, brownstones, or quiet homes tucked away from the world. It’s easy to retreat behind our walls, but now more than ever, we need to look beyond them. To check in on neighbors, show up for friends, and recognize strangers as part of the same city, the same world.

Because the best views are the ones we share.