The Mighty Micro
“We think that it is the big moments that define our lives—the wedding, the baby, the new house, the dream job. But really these moments of happiness are just the punctuation marks. The narrative is written every day in the small and simple.” —Sarah Ban Breathnack
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“Micro” is trending. It’s not like I’ve never heard the word before. Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, archived documents lived at the library on microfiche, and micro miniskirts were all the rage. In science class, we examined leaves and hair through a gray metal microscope. Microphones were commonplace. By the 1980s microwave ovens made preparing a meal faster and easier than ever before.
Now, micro is everywhere. Microchips, for example, are tiny semiconductors critical to almost every electronic device we own. Microaggressions are a steady stream of small attacks on someone’s identity, appearance, or personhood. My physical therapist recently added micro movements—small, gentle exercises that promote healing, restore flexibility, and reduce pain—to my rehab routine. Digestion is controlled by the microbiome, which is bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that create the gut conditions working for or against us.
What I appreciate most about the micro trend is the acknowledgement that little things can be powerful. Micronutrients, for example, are minute amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, and other substances required to ensure the proper functioning of human development. They are good. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles invading our food, water, and air. They are bad.
I enjoyed a recent post in a Substack column called Midnight Journal:
Slow progress is still progress
No one sees the tiny choices
The five-minute walk
The water instead of the soda
The deep breath instead of snapping
But they matter
When I began hearing and reading about micro joy, I paid attention. A micro joy, I learned, is a fleeting but deeply gratifying moment of pleasure. That first sip of morning coffee, for example. Or the mouth-watering aroma of fresh-baked anything. An infant’s first crooked smile. Dropping the last puzzle piece into place. A late summer dinner outdoors with treasured friends.
A few Sundays ago, my ten-year-old granddaughter Penny offered some senior church members a moment of micro joy when she surprised them (and me) with a cartwheel on the sidewalk leading into church. Note to self: perhaps the “Why walk when you can cartwheel?” t-shirt I bought her earlier needed some parameters.
My first reaction was to ensure that no one had accidentally been kicked in the face by one of Penny’s exuberantly flying feet. My next thought was to hope no one had been offended. Church is sacred space where, let’s face it, you don’t see many cartwheels. Be that as it may, I needn’t have worried. The elderly onlookers smiled and cheered. “Cartwheels for Jesus!” one man said, laughing.
Earlier this year, Good Housekeeping magazine published the results of a new study designed to determine if various “micro acts” of joy, such as “expressing gratitude, doing something kind, or pausing for a moment of awe” could have an effect on people’s happiness and health.” Researchers concluded that “simple acts of joy, done for just 5-10 minutes a day, can really boost your happiness and well-being.” Darwin A. Guevarra, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the Affective Science and Psychophysiology Lab at Miami University, added that, “…the more of these micro acts people did, the bigger the boost in well-being.”
All this confirmed my heartfelt belief that while grand gestures and big moves (good job, Travis Kelce!) have their place, micro acts of loving well can be equally uplifting. So, yes, throw the party. Go on the trip. Take the new job. Adopt the puppy. Say yes to the dress. But send the thank you note, too. Hold the door for the person behind you. Give blood. Bake cookies for the new neighbor. Offer a hug. Volunteer.
Nine-year-old Ethan Wargo from Sycamore, Illinois understands. Ethan set up a free compliment stand inspired by the insult stand created by a character in a pre-teen book series called Dog Man. When Ethan’s dad posted about the compliment stand on social media, it went viral. People came from more than hour away just to receive a compliment from Ethan.
Like loving well, joy is contagious. Isn’t the macro environment simply the sum of the micro choices each of us makes every day? When a critical mass believes that it is and commits to do what we can, where we can, we’re on our way to a better world.
Questions
What word comes to mind most quickly when you hear the word “micro”?
Can you think of a time when a small act made a big impact on someone or something?
When did you last experience a micro joy? What did it look or feel like?
