So Happy Together!

Hayley's blog post, 2012, inspired me in many ways. She described the phenomenon of the world ending in 2012 and how people view it. While some don't believe in it, some picture horrors, and others are thinking on a more positive note; most people have formed an opinion on what they believe will become the outcome of 2012. Personally, I don't believe the world will end. But it did make me think about the end, which is imminent. We have been discussing happiness and various graphs associated with happiness in America. But what about something more general? How would the happiness graph look like of the human race throughout the course of history?

I believe, unfortunately, it would be a downward facing curve (like in the righthand corner). It starts out with the very first humans. Living a very animalistic life and without any advanced tools, these early humans lived very difficult lives. And not being as intelligent as modern humans, they would have less capacity to appreciate experiences. As time went on, the happiness rose. People learned to become innovative, interact with the earth, and love each other. Yet beginning with the industrial revolution and the rise of technology, people have lost touch with these simple facts of life that provide happiness. They have become so enfatuated with themselves and their issues for the future t that they have neglected what it is that makes them happy in the future.

So, what would your graph look like?

A Teenage Dream

In class yesterday, we spoke of the graph from Daniel Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness. It followed the marital happiness of couples throughout their children's age. Most studies indicated that marital happiness was at its lowest when the couple had teenagers. This may be true, but what about the happiness of teenagers themselves?

I found a really interesting article(click HERE) about the happiness of teenagers. It claims that due to the high depression rates among teens, England proposes to "teach" happiness in school, namely positive psychology. This seemed a bit disturbing to me. I don't believe happiness can be taught. In fact, the more pursued it is the more intangible it becomes. Teenagers have this notion that it will all get better in a little bit. Once they graduate, go to college, party...life will all be better.

So what is the American thought behind happiness in teens? Children anticipate their teenage years with great anticipation. And most adults believe teens are angry and miserable. Just think of the term "teen angst." Yet, most adults look back at their teen years in awe. I have met many an adult who is living in their past, just like Gatsby. Gatsby was at his happiest in his early adulthood and the rest of life was left to pursue that lost happiness. Going back to my last blog post, I think it really is all about living in the moment. It seems that people either spend their time looking towards their future for happiness or reliving the past to attain the happiness they once possessed. It makes me wonder...Is happiness itself an American Myth?

Slow Down There Americans!

I had a bit of an epiphany today in class. I realized that our viewing of Citizen Kane in American Studies was one of the few movies I had truly watched in a very long time. We later had a class discussion about this. Americans are so efficiency-obsessed that they can never just watch tv shows or movies without feeling the desire to get something done. I find myself feeling this way constantly. I never watch tv, when I do I feel guilty about spending time for myself. I always think of something more efficient that could be done.

I was recently skimming through a health book that highlight this American phenomenon. By constantly worry, working, and planning; American's are not truly living. We have lost the ability to live in the moment, truly soak up the world around us. Hard work is an American value. But the more American success slips from our hands, the more hard work we put into our lives. This type of hard work is not the answer. For true success(happiness) and to ensure our sanity, we must learn to live in the now. This means doing one thing at a time, slowly, and with purpose.

Rich.

I found the blog post Doc Oc made really interesting. The debate in Winnetka about allowing "affordable housing"(if you can consider $75,000 and less a year low income) and the fact that all these "lower income" people come to claim the old goods of the North Shore dwellers is fascinating. Obviously there is contempt for the lower class among these people. They are jumping to conclusions and assuming this housing could bring "criminals". This brings up a good discussion not just about class, but the attitudes and interactions of different classes towards one another. The Great Gatsby oozes with aristocratic class, but there are also references to the "valley of ashes" where the lower classes dwell. How does the upper class' attitude towards the poor compare in The Great Gatsby ? How have these attitudes changed over time? Has progress been made?