Joy is clearer when shared.

Yesterday, I spent the whole day in NYC with one intention: to be present with my friends—Courtney and Carmela. No research. No theorizing. Just joy. Just friendship.

We had coffee, deep conversation, wandered through the MoMA, ate a beautiful lunch. But those were just the activities. The real magic was how we held space for joy.

What I’m learning—what became crystal clear yesterday—is that friendship can be one of our biggest sources of joy… or one of our deepest sources of pain. The difference? Intention. Clarity. Accountability.

✨ Quiet but deep
✨ Slow but healing
✨ Gentle but transformative

Courtney helped me name something big: we often tie joy to outcomes. If I do this → then I’ll feel joy. But that kind of joy? Fleeting. Conditional.

Carmela reminded me that real joy—the kind that stays with you—often arrives softly. Without needing a stage.

So here’s my question:
When’s the last time you talked to your friends about joy? Not just shared it, but named it. Checked in on it. Made space for it. Held it accountable.

Real friendship makes room for joy to be honest, messy, and whole.

Try it. Ask your people:
💬 What’s bringing you joy right now?
💬 Where is joy missing?
💬 How can we build more joy—together?

Joy isn’t just something we find. It’s something we build, in community.