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Melvin's blog
Nshima & Curry
Melvin's Blog
Nshima & Curry
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HAPPINESS DOESN'T NEED TO COST
MUCH
So you want to be happy, deliriously happy? Consider moving
to Nigeria. Nigerians are the happiest people in the world,
according to the World Values Survey. That doesn't surprise
me at all, because I keep receiving emails from Nigerians
eager to share their wealth with me. I'd be happy, too, if I
had so much loot.
But the survey found that almost 70% of Nigerians consider
themselves very happy, and the vast majority of them, I
presume, are not running email scams. Which begs the
question: what type of scams are they running? Surely they
must be doing something illegal to be so happy!
Well, not necessarily. Acquiring tons of money -- illegally
or otherwise -- is only a limited factor in happiness, not
as significant as, say, having good friends, according to
New Scientist magazine, which published the results of
the survey. Bill Gates, for example, is so happy not
because of his immense wealth but because everybody
wants to be his friend. It's too bad there's not enough room
on that yacht.
Money can certainly buy happiness, but its impact seems to
drop once you can afford basic necessities, such as food,
shelter, clothing, and satellite TV. That may explain why
happiness levels in industrialized nations have remained
static over the last half-century despite soaring incomes.
Of course, inflation is also a culprit. Money just doesn't
buy as much happiness as it used to.
Even when money does exert an influence, it isn't the size
of your paycheck that matters, it's how you compare to
friends, neighbors and colleagues, New Scientist says. The
New York cabbie who has an efficient car may seem happy, but
not as happy as the Ethiopian villager who has an efficient
cow. Likewise, if your friends fall on hard times, you may
actually feel a little happier, as long as they don't move
in with you.
When you're living amid wealth and luxury, your desires tend
to be greater. Unfulfilled desires are a major source of
unhappiness. And if you don't believe me, just look at the
faces of women in a shoe store.
Female shopper: "There are so many nice shoes here. Don't
you wish you had more money?"
Friend: "No, I wish I had more feet. Why did God give us
only two? I mean, look at what he did for centipedes."
It shouldn't be surprising, then, that Nigeria, Mexico,
Venezuela and El Salvador ranked the highest in happiness
among the 65-plus countries surveyed, leaving some residents
of wealthy countries to scratch their heads in utter
bewilderment, wondering if they need to buy bigger TVs.
Canada ranked 11th, Australia 13th, United States 15th,
United Kingdom 16th and Japan 20th. Of course, many poorer
countries ranked lower. India, for example, was 21st, but
most Indians are undoubtedly thrilled about this, because
they finished two spots ahead of Pakistan. Like people
throughout the world, they can't help comparing themselves
to their neighbors.
As the survey indicates, happiness can sprout in various
ways and flourish in various cultures. Money isn't as
significant as friendships, marriage, religion and charity.
Adopting a child can bring you more happiness, I believe,
than adopting a Cadillac.
Nothing brings me more joy than watching my 16-month-old
daughter laugh and play. I wouldn't trade her for anything
in the world -- not even a plane ticket to Nigeria.
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