As I was finally reading the newspaper after a full day of: working yesterday in the Humanitarian center, shopping, getting my hair blonded again then hurrying home to rest before making dinner, this article caught by attention written by Bill and Rich Sones. It's about the U-shaped curve of happiness.
It talks about the regularity and predictability of happiness saying...that people tend to begin their young lives feeling relatively happy but then midlife crises can undermine this and despair can peak. This happiness low point typically hits men at about age 40 and women at age 50. Then comes the remarkable rebound: People in their sixties and seventies, if healthy physically, tend to be as happy as young people. This pattern holds for both men and women, singles and married, and those with and without children. Oddly nobody knows why most of us are able to bounce back (to being happy again.) Maybe we just learn to adapt. Or maybe we finally give up UNREALISTIC DREAMS. Or it could be that the cheerful and resilient live long enough to answer questions at age 70.
I know I've been happier since turning 60! Words to think about...maybe it's having an attitude of gratitude, accepting the imperfections of this life while thanking God for the opportunity to experience it with its beauties, injustices and challenges to learn from each day. What do you think?