Atop the Mast: the flag of the state of Hawaii.
On the Yardarm: the flags of the Netherlands and Austria, whose capital is Vienna.
Happiness is considered to be the gateway to self-awareness, intrinsic motivation, independence, and positive ties with your community—all of which we believe cultivates success in life. It’s not easy to figure out what makes people happy. The conventional answer in many capitalist nations like the U.S.A. is money, so you can buy things that make you happy. Nice idea, but it is not borne out by studies. In many cultures where people don’t have a lot of money, they’re pretty happy, due to a lot of circumstances that differ from place to place. Family, friends, and a good sense of community are clearly factors. Government experiments to simply give people money have not resulted in happy people.
Recent surveys may shed some light on this question. In recent surveys, Hawaii is deemed to be the happiest U.S. state. I lived as a high school teacher in Hawaii for a few years. My kids were generally happy. I enjoyed it in part because whites like me are not the majority race. I also loved the easy access to the mountains (or pali) and beaches. Based on 30 key metrics, Hawaii earned its No. 1 status because of low depression rates, the share of adults feeling productive, and income growth. Hawaiians have the longest life expectancy. One analyst said, “The happiest states are those that provide above-average quality of life in a wide variety of areas, from strong state economies and high-quality physical and mental health care to adequate amounts of leisure and good weather.” Does this describe where you live?
When we turn our focus to cities internationally, Vienna, Austria, comes in very high, as it enjoys a world-class cultural scene, vast green spaces, and excellent public services. Stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure are key categories considered. I studied in Vienna for six months, and it remains my favorite city. Unlike most European capitals, it was not bombed substantially in World War II and retains its historical, imperial charm and architecture. It also enjoys wonderful coffee shops, music, and parks. What’s your favorite city?
Many political studies in recent years focus on happiness—or lack thereof–among Generation Z and Millennials. It is clear from recent elections that they are restless in the U.S., and just last week, Generation Z’s in Nepal launched a major rebellion that resulted in the burning of government buildings and removal of the prime minister. Which raises the question: What nations enjoy the happiest young people?
It turns out Dutch kids in the Netherlands are happiest, according to UNICEF. Why? Well, Dutch babies get plenty of sleep, and their parents focus on daily activities at home, placing value on rest and regularity, in contrast with American parents, who tend to focus more on the importance of stimulation and new experiences. Also, Dutch kids spend more time with their parents, feel less pressure to excel in school, are encouraged to bike and to express their opinions, and, maybe most important, eat “hagelslag” or chocolate sprinkles for breakfast.
We used to think happiness is having warm puppies….but in my household, we have two puppies now, and potty training is between us and happiness, at the moment.
What makes YOU happy?
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