Daddy's Christmas Angel

Monday, May 9, 2011

The Pursuit of Happiness

"Daffodils" 3-panel glass MM Sikes
"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." That topic was the subject of the CBS Sunday show yesterday.

The program began with a brief discussion of Jim Axelrod's new book on the pursuit of happiness. The book is due for release on May 10.

Unfortunately, I was left uncertain whether the rest of the segment was information from his book or from other sources. According to the program, Boulder, Colorado is the happiest community in our country. People in that city have the highest feeling of well-being. Obesity there and smoking are found in only 13% of the population. Good health means happiness is high and stress is low.

Hawaii is the happiest state. The top 10 in happy states include mostly states in the northwest including South Dakota. No southern states are included in the top 10.

Huntington, West Virginia was at the bottom of happiness for cities. A struggling economy, unemployment, aging population, and poor health were cited as the major reasons for unhappiness there.

Getting enough sleep and getting exercise are two happiness factors, according to the Sunday program. Being happier starts with taking the first small step in the right direction.

Happiness for me is often found in the color yellow. I feel happier wearing yellow clothing. Yellow flowers attract me. What can be nicer than the beautiful yellow forsythia that heralds the coming of spring?

What makes you happy?

6 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Playing my guitar makes me happy!

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

That's a good one, Alex!

Southpaw said...

People enjoying people, flowers, snowflakes, it's all the little things. Interesting post.

Enid Wilson said...

We have similar survey in Oz. I agree about good health, very important.

Chemical Fusion

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Thanks, Holly. It's all those little things that I'm often too busy to see!

Good health, Enid, is so important. Playing tennis helps with that!

Trisha said...

Interesting statistics - I feel pretty happy for the most part too :)