Not happy with your life? Hang on, the best is yet to come ... if you live long enough, that is.
A new study revealed that the Golden age is when people achieve the peak of happiness:
A study published by the American National Academy of Sciences, based on a survey of 341,000 people, found that enjoyment of life dwindled throughout early adulthood but began an upward trend in the late forties, and continued to increase until reaching a peak at 85.
Andrew Steptoe, professor of psychology at University College London, said elderly people today benefit from better health and opportunities now than 30 years ago, adding that good health and a secure income were "very important" in old age. [...]
In addition, psychologists believe that in old age we become more selective with how we use our time, focusing more on doing things we enjoy and cutting out parts of life that make us unhappy.
What? Being sickly, broke and estranged from family and friends would make someone less happy? Put this in the, No Kidding, file. Blanket statements rarely cover everything.
There are many young people who do have these things, but are not happy. Think of all the celebrities that take to drugs and all that stuff.
Old people, it seems, reach a level of maturity - or as I like to call it - a mindset - that makes happiness possible.
The good thing of calling it a mindset is, that it doesn't have to be coupled with age. It can be learned.
We have to die to life in order to live. That is where we find our happiness, only after all hope is lost. At age 85 we have little to look forward to, and instead look at what is happening now. We cease living for the future and begin living for the present. We also tend to focus less on ourselves and more on others.
We could do all this in our youth if we understand why and how. But we don't, it's the meaning of being born into ignorance.
I hope you die soon.
(and that religion thing works for you)
brought to you by: The Flying Spagetti Monster
My religion doesn't require that. I'm sorry yours sucks.
According to the article, happiness starts to rise n the late 40's, so happiness starts to rise around the age most people's kids are moving out. That's pretty simple.