Every now and then, we ask something really simple in Civic Pulse that cuts through the noise of politics, policy, and polls. A couple weeks ago it was:
“Thinking back over the last few weeks, what’s one moment, big or small, that brought you a sense of joy or happiness?”
The answers remind us that even in the midst of chaos, life keeps offering up these small, sparkling proofs of goodness. And, in some reassuring news, only 4% of people said “nothing”.
Everyday Reasons to Smile
The people who respond to Civic Pulse come from every walk of life and all over the country. So needless to say, they wrote about a dazzling array of joyful moments. Newborn twins. A 100th birthday party. Repairing an old motorcycle. Getting a raise. One person donated to a shelter, and another found shelter after two years of homelessness.
Across this diversity of experience though, one theme stood above the rest: nearly every other person (42%) wrote about family (broadly defined to include partners, children, grandchildren, etc.). Many wrote about simply spending time together, while others wrote about trips, BBQs, and first days of school.
For thousands of others, joy came from other types of connection. Friends described “playing Dungeons and Dragons”. Neighbors described “spending time together at block parties” and “taking care of each other after moments of hardship” or even just “playing ball in the street”. One person wrote, “sharing leftovers.” I wish they were my neighbor.
But no matter what moment they describe when people think about what brought them joy, it’s often about the people in their lives, as the word cloud below highlights the nuance:
In a time when so many people talk about loneliness, it was striking how often joy was described in the plural. One person recounted that “we went fishing with family and friends”. Another talked about “watching a funny video online with my sister. We could not stop laughing and giggling.” One recognized a moment of deep connection: “Sharing a precious moment with our neighbor’s autistic child, which makes me glad I could make another soul happy.”
Of course, not every answer was profound. And yet, were still gloriously human. A few favorites:
“Goats.”
“My best friend was in town and we split a pizza.”
“My son turned 2 and I turned 23. We share birthdays.”
“Buying a 500 dollar Pokemon card.”
“My dad visited me and we got drunk at a Red Sox game.”
“Walking outside and seeing 2 cardinals sitting in a tree having a bird conversation.”
And since we are here, we had to check: Are we more of a dog or a cat country? Turns out, we’re almost exactly split. Dogs showed up in 270 responses and cats in 236, including a new kitten named “Tostada”.
Final Thoughts
Thriving communities, it turns out, aren’t defined by big events or civic slogans. They’re built out of these small, reliable acts of showing up for one another.
As you think about your own week:
Can you recall one small moment that made you feel connected to someone else?
How might our sense of civic health shift if we treated joy or kindness as a measurable component?
And could organizing look different if it began with what makes people feel alive, not angry?
When people describe what brings them joy, they’re also describing what gives them hope and strength. These moments remind us that the good is still out there, waiting to be seen, named, and passed along.
Wishing you more moments of joy and kindness.
Murmuration is a non-profit that strengthens community-driven change at the local level. By equipping local organizations with powerful data, technology, and insights, Murmuration helps them amplify community voices, build collective power, and drive solutions that reflect the lived realities of the people they serve.murmuration.org