Placing a higher value on relationships can increase happiness and well-being.

Many immigrant cultures prioritize relationships, family, and interdependence.

Sharing meals with others improves well-being, increases positive emotions, and decreases negative emotions.

I recently returned from a writer’s conference in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. San Miguel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with cobblestone streets, buildings dating back hundreds of years, and a rich artistic culture. Authors from all over the globe attended the conference to share writing craft workshops and build community. On the first day of the conference, Travis Bembenek, owner of Mexico News Daily, a leading English-language newspaper reporting on Mexican news, spoke about what he and his wife learned after moving to Mexico.

He and his wife noticed that the Mexican people valued:

Civic and religious traditions

Relationships over efficiency

Public spaces and a culture of interdependence

In Mexico, your pace and heart rate slow down. Small talk, even with strangers, is not considered wasted time. Joy is reflected in colorful textiles, public murals, music, and dancing in the streets, and window boxes flowing with flowers and plants. Imperfection is embraced, and historical buildings are valued. Simplicity is celebrated.

Positive psychology research shows that many of these values comprise the core of a well-lived life. When people share joyful experiences, the stress hormone cortisol decreases (Yoneda et al., 2025).

The simple act of sharing........

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