Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Happy

I just spent an hour watching a documentary on Netflix titled "Happy" for 2 reasons.

One, I had to take a night off of Downton Abbey. I'm in the middle of season 2, but watched the season 3 finale on PBS Sunday night. Too many people are dying on me this week!

Two, almost all the documentaries are in some way negative: food is killing you (a half dozen of those!), 2 about prostitutes/porn, war, meth, a clan family, 9/11 footage...or animals- several dinosaur documentaries (where do they get THAT footage?), turtles, and feeding time at a zoo.

There ya go...that's how I choose Netfix! "Happy" was an easy choice.

Here's what I learned.

-50% of a person's "happiness" is genetically disposed.
10% is accorded to circumstances
40% is up to us

-Physical activity produces dopamine, the "happy hormone," which we all know, right?

-After a person's basic needs are met (food, shelter, clothing) there is little difference in happiness levels no matter their income level.

-In Japan, people are dying of over-work. They have a name for it; "karoshi." They interviewed a widow whose husband died working at Toyota.

-Conversely, the Japanese on Okinawa are the happiest longest living community on earth. (It kind of made me want to live on a Japanese farm. Maybe I would finally learn how to prepare kohlrabi.)

Why am I telling you all this? Because the scientists found that the happiest people are those who have a strong network of family and friends.

The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is my strength. Science tells me that happiness is found in an active life full of family and friends.

Today I chased three little ones all day and prepared a meal of stuffed peppers and roasted white asparagus (the kids did not buy them as French fries and ate bologna instead but I tried!) for some family and talked to the love of my life who is in the city of love this evening. Je t'aime mon ami!

Am I happy?

Oui.

Below: my view this afternoon, Hubs' view this afternoon. We both wish we were together in one of them, but I'm happy he's mine no matter where.



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