Happiness is not a destination. Or is it?
The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is the happiest place on earth, according to a new "happy planet index".
Renowned psychologist Haim Ginott once said: "Happiness is not a destination." Well, it is now, so get down the travel agents and book a one-way ticket to Vanuatu.
An englishman residing in Vanuatu one day came across a young local man who had just returned to the island after studying at Nottingham University.
"I asked him what he was going to do with his life now and he just pointed at his fishing rod and said 'this'. He could have been one of the top earners in Vanuatu if he wanted, but he was contented with his simple life and didn't want anything else."
"It was a real eye-opener for me and made me look at what life is really all about. It just sums up what the place is about."
Who says that we have to live fast-paced, stressful life in order to earn more money to buy more things? Maybe we should all go live in Vanuatu and fish.
Source article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5172254.stm
5 comments:
Which makes me think of my old line: "Is happiness your life goal or your life style?" Or maybe you life destination? I'm in, Peep, When do we move there?!
Hugs, Augusto
Hey Peep!
What makes me think more is not the fact that Vanuatu island is the first country in th list. Really depressive thing is that mine and your homeland Estonia is one of the last countries according to the "index of happiness". Just behind Congo, Burundi, Swasiland and Zimbabwe.
Cheers!
Well Deniss, maybe AIESEC should have a new focus then - making Estonia the happiest country :)
"It is important to recognise from the outset that the HPI is not an indicator of the happiest country on the planet, or the best place to live. Nor does it indicate the most developed country in the traditional sense, or the most environmentally friendly. Instead, the HPI combines these notions, providing a method of comparing countries’ progress towards the goal of providing long-term well-being for all without exceeding the limits of equitable resource consumption."
Source: http://www.happyplanetindex.org/reveal2.htm
:)
Maybe Estonia still have a slight chance... If we start plan our resources better... So, Deniss, there should be AIESEC focus instead ;)
Happend to read this article as well some time ago when I was working. What i've realized about NZ is that life style is much more relaxed here as well compared to Europe where life is very fast-paced and stressful. People here are more relaxed and take their time and I think that effects the happiness level...Vanuatu is not far from here, haha...would be cool to visit. Agree with Deniss that sad to see Estonia so low in the list.
greetings from kiwiland:)
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