The Happiest Places in Americahttp://lenedge.blogspot.com/

I stumbled upon an article in the AARP magazine entitled, 5 happiest cities in America.  There were some surprises: Boulder, CO; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Madison, WI: and Honolulu, HI. The result was based on a Gallup Survey of the cities’ residents. So, it reveals the perception of the residents that were surveyed.  Certainly, if you perceive or believe that you are happy, then you are. The article stated that the

Gallup survey suggests that, with a few exceptions, the happiest residents dwell in midsize cities — that is, big enough to avoid boredom, yet small enough to feel like a real community (and actually find parking when you need it). Here's a sampling of the happiest cities in America, where overall well-being is the overriding vibe.

In trying to understand the results, I researched several characteristics of the cities – their geographic location, weather patterns, and other physical characteristics – that may contribute to the likability of a particular location. Madison is a northern US city with very cold, and sometimes, long winters.  The average monthly temperatures range from 10oF during the winter to a high of 83oF during the summer.

Honolulu is on a tropical island paradise with average monthly temperatures ranging from 65oF to 88oF. Pleasant year-round temperatures, with tropical beaches, flora and fauna provide a relaxing lifestyle for its residents, and one envied by many mainlanders.  Boulder, Colorado is slightly cooler than Wisconsin in the summers as well as having slightly warmer winter temperatures.  Interestingly, Boulder is 5,344 feet above sea level which makes for thinner air, and surrounding mountain ridges and canyons that facilitate lots of winter sports as a result of its heavy snowfall.  In addition, residents of Boulder and the neighboring environs of Denver are actively engaged in outdoor activities like road biking and jogging.  Although Seattle is located further north than Madison, it is generally warmer with far less snow during the winters but experiences cooler summer temperatures.  Seattle is known for its rainy climate, between 3 and 6 inches during the winter months, but with temperatures warmer than Wisconsin but chillier than Honolulu.  Although the average temperatures between Seattle and Boulder are not very different, the altitudes are remarkably dissimilar.  The city of Seattle is primarily at low altitude ranging from sea level to 520 feet.

So what about San Jose?  The average monthly temperatures range from 42oF to 82oF and experiences rainfall measurements of 2 to 3 inches during the Fall and Winter and less than 1 inch from May to October.  These statistics seem to eliminate rainfall, temperature, altitude, latitude, or longitude as contributing factors to happiness.  Weather appears not to be an overriding factor that influences happiness. 

So what are the factors that contribute to happiness?  Maybe a better question would be, “What are the factors or experiences that do not appear to contribute to happiness?”  I was struck by the fact that none of the top five were located in the South, usually characterized as the Bible belt. These states are often characterized as conservative, and part of America’s heartland; regions that pride themselves on their strong moral values, love of country, independence, love of liberty, and so-called "second amendment rights."

A 2009 Gallup tracking poll revealed that the ten states with the highest church attendance in America are southern states, except Utah which was ranked at No. 5. Mississippi was No. 1. These southern states also exhibit the lowest women’s health outcomes. Lowest ranked were Mississippi, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Other studies suggest that these states are generally among the poorest, the fattest and politically conservative.  Residents of the happiest cities are often regarded as liberal, educated, amoral and atheistic.  But is it surprising that the unhappiest people live in regions of America where there appears to be in a perpetual fight against the President, the government, immigration, taxes, their congress, and virtually everything about modern day American society and perpetually engaged in what they call a culture war?

 I consider myself fairly conservative in my lifestyle choices.  My religious beliefs have been a major factor in my outlook on life and I consider myself to be very happy and content with life – all as a result of my religious outlook.  (I am reminded of a song I learnt as a child: “I have a joy in my heart to stay.”) I believe in a Christianity that expresses thankfulness, generosity, and peace of mind; a Christianity that seeks for the happiness of all.  True religion should embody a love of the citizen and the alien, the weak and strong.  Christianity or religion that is meaningful should seek to protect the vulnerable among us; seek to serve the poor and dispossessed and actively demonstrate external serenity.  A religion that simply seeks self-preservation and hoarding of resources is a sad religion and makes for an unhappy people.  So, I end his blog with a question to ponder. Does it mean that religion, or at least the claims of religion, does not play a significant role in happiness among Americans?  Maybe, just maybe, it is the way religion is practiced that generates those unhappy people in those unhappy states and cities. 

The Meaning of Birthdays

Birthdays are important days.[1]  At least that’s what most people think.  As a child, my birthday was rewarded with a special meal from my mother – maybe my favorite, and sometimes a special homemade birthday cake.  Mama, my grandmother, would often prepare something special as well, and invite me over.  There were no parties, cards, special gifts or toys.  That would be for Christmas.  But even then, the best thing about birthdays was that the food was especially good.  Growing up in a poor family on the Caribbean island of Tobago, life was centered on hard work, diligence in our studies at school, and faith in God.  But at birthday time, we received the reinforcement that we were special, we were loved and God loved us.

As I grew older, birthdays became ho hum. I carried on with the busy events of making a living, raising a family, and accepted the ubiquitous “Happy birthday, Len!” greetings unemotionally.  There were more gifts and cards, but I accepted birthdays as just another sign of growing older – another notch on the chronological pole.   But something happened in 2007.  I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer – a bolt out of the blue.  For a person who enjoyed remarkably good health, I often regarded the gift of life as a just reward for my religious moorings, living a fairly healthy lifestyle, and staying out of trouble.  I was the one who exercised relatively, had good eating habits and regular exercise, and one who never drank alcohol or smoked, I was a statistical outlier.  But illnesses don’t always follow the statistical lines.  That isn’t to say that healthy habits are to be avoided.  However, after a very difficult experience through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, I have returned to good health. Despite the ill effects of radiation and chemo, I am back to normal health doing most of the things I enjoy.

So how has life changed?  Birthdays are celebrations of life and living.  Gifts and parties don’t really matter as much, and I don’t really care if anyone forgets (or remembers) my birthday.  But most of the people I know remember and celebrate with me.  Living through the difficult days of treatment and recovery has created a special shrine of hope that is worthy of a celebration of smiles, high fives and reminiscences.  It was a journey I took with my wife and children, my parents and siblings, and some special friends who walked the dark way with me.  So birthdays are special in a way no other day is special.  It reminds me that life is a gift. It is a gift meant to be shared with those I love and everyone else.  It is an opportunity to treasure the many blessings of life that I previously took for granted.  Since my return to health I have devoted my hobby of road biking to raising money for the American Diabetes Association’s fight for a cure of diabetes, a devastating metabolic disease that affects increasingly millions of people.  The 100 mile ride on March 17, 2013 will be my third Tour de Cure.  Over the last three years, my friends have supported my efforts by donating over $10,000 towards this cause, but nothing gives me greater pleasure than my heart’s smile as I pedal along knowing that the lease of life I now enjoy is a privilege far beyond words.  Life is to be enjoyed to the fullest and time to be spent sharing with others, enjoying the grand children, smelling the cut grass, watching the clouds drift by, or marveling at the limitless blue sky.  Every year, March 1 reminds me that life is special gift.

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[1] This post is dedicated to my wife, Nichole, the love of my life; my two children, Lilly and Nicholas and their spouses; my two grandsons, Chris and Caleb; and my loving parents, Henry and Millicent Archer, 95 and 91 respectively, who taught me what true living is all about.