The unassuming power of joy

What comes to mind when you think of a political convention? If you’re like me, you might picture long speeches that are as exciting as a trip to the dentist. But before you tune out, this isn’t a pro-Harris, pro-Democrat issue. Instead, I will dive into what made this year’s Democratic National Committee (DNC) convention unique, and why it might surprise you.

For those of you who missed it, the convention was actually quite entertaining. With great music playing throughout and appearances by Oprah, the Clintons and the Obamas, the lineup was engaging from start to finish. My wife and I found ourselves huddled on the couch watching the convention all four days. Neither of us has watched a convention for more than a few minutes outside of the nominee's speech, but this year we were hooked. More surprising was that we were watching TV together—something we rarely do. Though I must confess, we both enjoy Emily in Paris.

For context, I’ve been a Reagan Republican for most of my life—fiscally conservative, socially liberal. I wasn’t politically active growing up. Over time, my values remained steady, but the parties shifted. I eventually became an independent and, with Trump’s rise to power, a Democrat. Now, back to the convention.

It’s been two months since the convention took place in Chicago. Here’s what I remember most vividly: a great DJ leading the roll call, Lil Jon announcing Georgia’s votes, Beyoncé’s Freedom echoing throughout, and several prominent Republican speakers taking the stage. I was quite touched by Doug Emhoff sharing heartfelt moments about his relationship with VP Harris, Tim Walz delivering a moving speech, and his son’s emotional reaction. After four days of compelling programming, I was expecting VP Harris’ speech on the final night to be a let down. Instead it was a highlight that left me feeling proud to be an American. The themes that came through most clearly were unity, joy and American pride. 

But what made this convention feel different? Why did I take the time to watch all these speeches? I loved the music, though music has always been a staple at both Republican and Democratic Conventions. While the DNC’s use of a DJ during the roll call was a fresh twist, high-profile musical performances are nothing new, and even though there were more Republicans at this convention than prior DNCs, recent DNC conventions have also featured prominent Republicans. 

Unity has been a recurring motif in both Republican and Democratic gatherings. Similarly, the effort to present the candidate as relatable is standard practice. While Trump-led RNCs haven’t focused on humanizing the nominee, doing so is fairly typical. Pride in being American was particularly moving for me at the convention. While American pride is a staple at every national convention, it often feels like a checkbox—mentioned because it has to be; an empty ritual. Instead this convention felt different, more like the Olympics, where pride creeps up on you uninvited, whether you want it or not.

Joy. As far as I can tell, the most unique aspect of the convention was joy. Joy is rare at political events. Most campaigns focus on the future—what comes next, what needs to change. But joy is different; it can be experienced in the present. There’s no need to wait. And when we feel joy, everything seems brighter. Perhaps that’s why American pride resonated with me when it hasn’t in the past. When we’re happy, we’re more open, more willing to come together. Everything seems possible. 

The power of joy is often overlooked. When I start a new project, I follow a common protocol: identify tasks, set a timeline, assign responsibilities, and track progress.  I am now realizing that I should also ask myself, What can I do to make this project more enjoyable? When done well, joy has the power to transform work into fun. 

As I reflect on the convention, watching the speeches didn’t feel like a task to endure. It was something I genuinely looked forward to. I found myself tuning in early, eager to see the day's lineup, and staying on afterward to watch the post-speech commentary. The night following the convention I found myself a little bored—suddenly, my evenings felt a little dull. 

Since the convention, I’ve noticed that I’ve been feeling a bit happier. It left me with an unexpected sense of pride in being American. Both emotions have lingered longer than I anticipated. I rarely associate happiness with politics, and in recent years, I hadn’t linked the Democratic Party platform with American pride. The goal of any campaign is to get your vote. If Harris succeeds, it might not be her policies or platforms that make the difference, but instead the simple yet powerful force of joy.

Sangeeth Peruri - Jack of Many Trades, Master of None
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Lastly, check out the podcast of this episode, created with help from NotebookLM. It’s pretty cool!