The longest study on human happiness from Harvard literally concluded we just need friends 😂. Strong social bonds like partnerships are great too if they’re healthy. In the us we have more and more people living alone as well as a housing crisis in most cities. I think we need more creative living spaces like individual units with shared communal spaces.
I mean, the major reason incomes are so high in the United States is because you pay for so many things out of pocket that incomes have to be relatively high, as opposed to any other G7 country where the state pays for more.
When you look at the history of the United States, you just see every key decision shaped by industry/corporate interests. This is a country that has tolerated pro-corporatist governance at the expense of the individual for far too long – and now everyone's suffering under late-stage capitalism as a result. Consider even just the built environment; apparently the car manufacturing industry shaped government decision-making to construct roads over rail. Decision after decision was made in the interest of industry because a rising tide carries all boats or some nonsense that never materialized.
I've lived in countries that are much less wealthy and I've been much happier on a daily basis. What is the point of wealth if it doesn't actually make you happy – if it just isolates you and compels you to work more? No thank you!
These problems are amplified among the elderly. We tend to think of loneliness as a personal issue or failing but it's a social and medical issue on a global scale.
Agreed, I have heard of some countries implementing programs for interaction between older and younger generations. When we put our elderly in senior living facilities they don't get that inter-generational mingling which I think is really important.
So true. My grandparents-in-law "achieved the dream" and moved to a retirement home in the mountains when they stopped working. Enter isolation. It translated to their physical health, and then their mental health... some say what they did was the dream, but was it worth it if the last 40 years of your life suck?
Good points! Yeah, too bad we can’t convert the value of social capital into dollars and add that to GDP. That would be an interesting progression. Maybe then we’d look up to social capital billionaires as we do financial ones.
Gen-Z'ers are not educated on the importance of the social muscle. Life is the Internet...but they don't know how to befriend a neighbor in-person to ask them to feed their cat. I remember having to learn how to flirt and be a sociable person IRL to meet my boyfriend-now-husband. It was hard work...I wish I had learned this from someone. And, honestly, social skills are my favorite skills to use to make money.
I'm sure plenty of people who can "only afford" an apartment close to others wish they could afford to live in big houses away from everyone. This article was useful for awareness...that no, bigger houses and yards are not the answer to happiness.
Brian, these are some very good points you made. Great essay. Apparently, Nordic countries also inculcate rituals related to well-being in their working lifestyles. Maybe, we all can take a leaf out of that one!
Very interesting and very much on my mind. I left the U.S. for Sweden in 2019 and I can't say I feel more connected here because Swedes are shy, so my friends are largely within the American expat community. But there is a much great cultural emphasis on chilling out and enjoying life and staying relaxed and it has very much benefitted my family. Thanks for the post.
You've touched on some really great points. Personally I think the built environment it huge here, namely living in the suburbs and spending too much time in cars. I was recently visiting the US and was floored at the amount of time I spent driving each day, easily 2-3 hours between visiting friends, running errands, etc. In Spain I get in a car maybe once or twice a month!
I even visited a friend in Los Angeles who excitedly told me she lived walking distance to the grocery store. But when we walked there and back we didn't pass a single person. The difference of not just being able to walk places, but being surrounded by people while you're walking is huge.
We value convenience above all these days. I'm as guilty of this as anyone. But even when I order my coffee ahead of time, I always chat with the baristas.
Humanity is a feature, not a bug. But many people (re: corporations) would have you think otherwise.
The longest study on human happiness from Harvard literally concluded we just need friends 😂. Strong social bonds like partnerships are great too if they’re healthy. In the us we have more and more people living alone as well as a housing crisis in most cities. I think we need more creative living spaces like individual units with shared communal spaces.
Yes! Like in Europe and Asia!
I mean, the major reason incomes are so high in the United States is because you pay for so many things out of pocket that incomes have to be relatively high, as opposed to any other G7 country where the state pays for more.
When you look at the history of the United States, you just see every key decision shaped by industry/corporate interests. This is a country that has tolerated pro-corporatist governance at the expense of the individual for far too long – and now everyone's suffering under late-stage capitalism as a result. Consider even just the built environment; apparently the car manufacturing industry shaped government decision-making to construct roads over rail. Decision after decision was made in the interest of industry because a rising tide carries all boats or some nonsense that never materialized.
I've lived in countries that are much less wealthy and I've been much happier on a daily basis. What is the point of wealth if it doesn't actually make you happy – if it just isolates you and compels you to work more? No thank you!
We became "free" from government...but not from corporations.
Yes! They’re our real overlords and they are only invested in our interests so much as it benefits their bottom line.
These problems are amplified among the elderly. We tend to think of loneliness as a personal issue or failing but it's a social and medical issue on a global scale.
Agreed, I have heard of some countries implementing programs for interaction between older and younger generations. When we put our elderly in senior living facilities they don't get that inter-generational mingling which I think is really important.
So true. My grandparents-in-law "achieved the dream" and moved to a retirement home in the mountains when they stopped working. Enter isolation. It translated to their physical health, and then their mental health... some say what they did was the dream, but was it worth it if the last 40 years of your life suck?
Good points! Yeah, too bad we can’t convert the value of social capital into dollars and add that to GDP. That would be an interesting progression. Maybe then we’d look up to social capital billionaires as we do financial ones.
That would be fascinating.
This picture is absolutely remarkable.
Gen-Z'ers are not educated on the importance of the social muscle. Life is the Internet...but they don't know how to befriend a neighbor in-person to ask them to feed their cat. I remember having to learn how to flirt and be a sociable person IRL to meet my boyfriend-now-husband. It was hard work...I wish I had learned this from someone. And, honestly, social skills are my favorite skills to use to make money.
The gift of gab is one of the best skills you can have, I'm glad you put in the work!
Haha you might be right. And maybe it actually can't be taught...
I'm sure plenty of people who can "only afford" an apartment close to others wish they could afford to live in big houses away from everyone. This article was useful for awareness...that no, bigger houses and yards are not the answer to happiness.
Excellent article!!
Sad but so true!
Brian, these are some very good points you made. Great essay. Apparently, Nordic countries also inculcate rituals related to well-being in their working lifestyles. Maybe, we all can take a leaf out of that one!
Very interesting and very much on my mind. I left the U.S. for Sweden in 2019 and I can't say I feel more connected here because Swedes are shy, so my friends are largely within the American expat community. But there is a much great cultural emphasis on chilling out and enjoying life and staying relaxed and it has very much benefitted my family. Thanks for the post.
You've touched on some really great points. Personally I think the built environment it huge here, namely living in the suburbs and spending too much time in cars. I was recently visiting the US and was floored at the amount of time I spent driving each day, easily 2-3 hours between visiting friends, running errands, etc. In Spain I get in a car maybe once or twice a month!
I even visited a friend in Los Angeles who excitedly told me she lived walking distance to the grocery store. But when we walked there and back we didn't pass a single person. The difference of not just being able to walk places, but being surrounded by people while you're walking is huge.
We value convenience above all these days. I'm as guilty of this as anyone. But even when I order my coffee ahead of time, I always chat with the baristas.
Humanity is a feature, not a bug. But many people (re: corporations) would have you think otherwise.
Thanks for writing a great piece!
You summarized the problem perfectly. Well done!.