A dying man said he found the key to happiness. Science backs him up.

Ted Pellegatta brought people together at a daily coffee shop gathering, helping to bridge political divides and combat loneliness.

Thanks Kimberly!

Excerpt: "Anybody who walked in was welcome in the discussion. The ground rules were simple:

• Show interest in one another (“If you’re up for what they’re doing, they’re up for what you’re doing,” Pellegatta explained to me)

• and refuse to fight (“We’re Quakers,” he joked).

• If an argument got too hot, he’d shut it down with a “meow.”

• If somebody was pontificating, he’d drop his head and snore. If the conversation annoyed him, he’d get up and leave

• — then start again the next day.

At a time when the country has been enduring an epidemic of loneliness, Pellegatta’s coffee klatch has offered connection for residents of Rappahannock County. At a time when half the country can’t talk to the other half, he found a way to get people to discuss and sometimes to argue politics while still respecting — and even loving — one another. At a time when social media is tearing us apart and driving some to heinous acts, this group is feeling the healing power of human contact."