Finally, because joy is rarely solitary, small delights spread strength through networks. Brief, warm exchanges—eye contact with a barista, a shared joke—can create what Fredrickson later called “positivity resonance” (Love 2.0, 2013), synchronizing emotions and physiology. Empirical work suggests happiness can diffuse through social ties (Christakis & Fowler, BMJ, 2008), implying that cultivating micro-joys is also a civic act. As individuals grow steadier, relationships become sturdier; as relationships strengthen, communities become more resilient. Thus the circle closes: the small joys you tend do not only lift you—they quietly lift the world that sustains you. [...]
