For Clinton Tavares from Goa, a morning run is not only about staying fit. Somewhere between one stretch of the road and the next, he makes time to notice people and give them a reason to smile.

He may spot a man with a beard and tell him he has “the coolest beard”, or notice someone’s backpack and stop to say, “That’s a really cool backpack.” A woman in a sari gets a warm compliment, while another person is greeted with, “Good morning.”

It is a small habit, but one that feels especially meaningful at a time when people are rushing through their days, looking at their phones or carrying worries of their own.

His interactions are spontaneous. He sees someone he likes and says so. When he meets a man named Raj, for instance, he learns that he is 62 and immediately tells him, “That’s young. That’s quite young.” When Raj reveals that he........

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