Blessings Barb

Get Connected to be Happy

 I am intrigued with the 7-Day Happiness Challenge in the NYTimes, inspired by the book that will be released this week -- The Good Life  by Dr. Bob Waldinger, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. The premise is quite simple, but is based on the results of the longest scientific study on human happiness that has ever been conducted. 

The question was what makes for a happy, fulfilling life? The answer -- simple but not surprising -- is relationships. How is this for a claim: According to the Challenge, "Ample research shows that people who are more socially connected live longer and are more protected against stress, depression and declines in memory and language." 

Social connectedness includes your relationships with family, friends, community groups, and even people you run into in your everyday life at the grocery store, the gym, and church. We form connections either formally or informally. The important point is that they make a difference in our health and well-being -- our quality and longevity of life. 

The NYTimes challenge starts with taking stock of your relationships and presents a new challenge each day. For example, Day 2 is The Secret Power of the 8-Minute Phone Call. The idea is that we often have 8-minute blocks of time to fill. When you touch base with a friend or loved one and agree to limit your periodic  phone calls to 8 minutes, your conversations become more meaningful and more frequent. The trick is to commit to the concept, and then pick up the phone!! 

If you feel that you are interested in getting more connected, take a look at the book or the NYTimes challenge. (You do need a subscription to get the challenge). We all have to start somewhere. Next blog I'll tell you about my own community's "Dinner with Friends" and how we connect at dinner each month. 

Blessings,

Barb