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A few weeks ago, my wife and I were curled up on the couch watching "Traitors," pretend-screaming at the TV every time a Faithful guessed the wrong person (so, repeatedly), and scrolling Instagram during commercial breaks. When we landed on a clip of figure skater Alysa Liu's Olympics performance doing the latter, we stopped to watch. We must have replayed that video four, five times, the word "happy" triple axel-ing through the pixelated screen.
Looking back now, I wish I could bottle the feeling of that moment, just stick it in an airtight jar and seal in all the goodness. It was comfort in where I was, the connection of who I was with, a glimmer of joy in what I was watching. That's the good stuff. Allowing yourself to feel it is also an important, but often unrealized, practice.
At Popsugar, we've been talking a lot about what it means to "feel good" in 2026, when the news cycle is bleak no matter which way you look. Here's where we landed: it's in those micro-moments of joy. It's whenever you find yourself escaping, connecting, or laughing — not to ignore what's happening around us, but to celebrate the humanity and happiness that exists right alongside it.
Which brings us to today: I am elated to unveil our inaugural Feel-Good List, a curated snapshot of the people, trends, and moments delivering a hit of dopamine this year when the world needs it most. We binge-watched every heartwarming TV show, scoured the internet for pockets of positivity, and went down memory lane as the stars we grew up with made a triumphant return.
Yes, you'll find nostalgia threaded throughout this list, because we learned that so many of us are collectively finding refuge in revisiting the past. You'll see that in every story before you, from the profiles of our cover stars Lana Condor, Taryn Delanie Smith, and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton to the fashion staple that's a literal comfort blanket for your feet to a playlist that makes you want to get up and dance, and so much more. I hope each one resonates with you as much as it did with us.
These are all small things, of course, as is snuggling up on a couch. But remember: a handful of small things has a big impact. Every bit is worth celebrating.
To the little moments,
Kelsey
English (US) ·