(typing sound) (upbeat music) - Hi, I'm Todd Doughty, and this is "Little Pieces of Hope".

A carefully curated book of lists, essays, and playlists designed to give you a burst of happiness in your day.

- Can you tell us about "Little Pieces of Hope?

I decided to start making this list of happy making things, things that I love, and it was everything from Eudora Welty's "One writer's beginnings" to "A grey muzzle dog with kind eyes" to "Fat gold fish", "A really good beggar".

Just things that I thought about that brought me joy.

- You started this on Instagram.

I know a number of people said, Todd, I think you writing a book.

- After that first list, I just kept going and going, and going.

And it really became this sort of little devotional every day that I would sit down for about a couple of hours and just kind of think about things that brought me joy.

There's also 16 essays that I expanded.

There is an essay about my grandma's red velvet cake, which I have her handwritten recipe here in my apartment to this day.

But, it's all about connecting those things that bring you joy or that thing that got you through that tough time, whatever that may be.

You know, we all have those little touchstones.

I think the love that you show to others and the love that you have for things that have been meaningful to you and your life.

For some of the most important things to come out of this unprecedented time.

- For more of my conversation with Todd Dowdy, please visit a word on words.org.

I'm JT Ellison, keep reading.

- Here it goes, happy making things in a difficult world, that moment after a storm, when the clouds break and the sunshine has a strange, glowing cue.

Someone who saves you a plate, someone who does the late night walk with the dog, making friends with your seatmate, when traveling all the while, knowing you may never see each other again.

It goes on from there.