Statistics tell. You can be <br />independent of them, but <br />you cannot deny them. <br /> <br />Though white Americans are freed <br />from many of the hassles and indignities <br />that affect black Americans, yet, <br />on average, they are only <br />very slightly happier. <br /> <br />Men have more power and freedom <br />than women, yet, on average, <br />they are not any happier. <br />(Women experience more depression, <br />but also more intense joy..) <br /> <br />Though the young have so much more <br />to look forward to, than the elderly, <br />yet ratings of life satisfaction rise slightly <br />up to age sixty-five, and for some, beyond.. <br /> <br />People in colder areas of the USA <br />might expect Californians to be <br />happier. They are wrong. <br /> <br />Surely people who are more attractive <br />are happier than the unattractive? <br />Not so.. <br /> <br />If you’re adequately housed, <br />adequately clothed, adequately fed, <br />then wealth will surely bring you greater happiness? <br />The rich are only a very little <br />happier than the middle classes… <br /> <br />So is this the end of <br />The American Dream – Joe, <br />José, Leroy, Yusuf, Gianni, Johan, Boris, Ivan, Ravi? <br />isn’t there a happy ending, over the border, <br />over the ocean, over the rainbow? <br /> <br />Yes, there is… <br />happy people grow rich faster.. <br /> <br /> <br />(thanks to Jon Haidt for this)<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-sad-story-of-happiness/
