Category: Happiness

Happiest Country in the World is Denmark

According to the World Happiness Report, released this week, Canada ranks as the fifth happiest country, trailing only Denmark, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands.

Trust also was cited as a key factor in overall happiness in the report, which was tabled at the United Nations.

A more recent reduction in trust was noted in countries such as the United States — which placed 11th overall — and the United Kingdom, which ranked 18th on the global happiness list.

http://www.vancouversun.com/…th+global+happiness+ranking/6406456/story.html

10 happiest countries:

Denmark

Finland

Norway

Netherlands

Canada

Switzerland

Sweden

New Zealand

Australia

Ireland

Have you ever felt like doing this? I have.

You know how irritating mobile phone users are when they fail to exercise discretion and think the world needs to know their business? When you have enjoyed as much as you can stand you can now get you own back!!!
Enjoy!!!

After a busy day he settled down in his train from Waterloo for a nap as far as his destination at Winchester when the chap sitting near him hauled out his mobile and started up:- “Hi darling it’s Peter, I’m on the train – yes, I know it’s the 6.30 not the 4.30 but I had a long meeting – no, not with that floozie from the typing pool, with the boss – no darling you’re the only one in my life – yes, I’m sure, cross my heart” etc., etc. This was still going on at Wimbledon, when the young woman opposite, driven beyond endurance, yelled at the top of her voice,
“Hey, Peter, turn that bloody phone off and come back to bed!!”

Dick Van Dyke, age 86, Marries Makeup Artist

  

This proves you are never too old!

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dick Van Dyke is a very happy newlywed at age 86, his spokesman said Friday.

Van Dyke and makeup artist Arlene Silver, 40, were married last week in a small Leap Day ceremony at a Malibu chapel near the actor’s home, publicist Bob Palmer said.

“I’ve never seen him happier. She adds a lot to his life,” he said, adding that the couple has much in common, including a love of singing.

On This Day Iwo Jima

On Feb. 19, 1945, during World War II, some 30,000 United States Marines landed on the Western Pacific island of Iwo Jima, where they encountered ferocious resistance from Japanese forces. The Americans took control of the strategically important island after a month-long battle.

Do your remember this picture?  The photo also appeared on a U.S. postage stamp.

 Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph taken on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima is one of the best-known war images ever made. The Allies  invaded  the island, more than six hundred miles off the coast of Japan, on February 19, 1945, hoping to establish a staging area for bombers. Rosenthal, a photographer for the Associated Press, landed under gunfire three hours after the invasion began. The Marines fought their way to the top of Mount Suribachi on February 23 and raised a small flag.  Later that same day, five Marines and a naval medicine corpsman raised this second, larger flag at the summit and were recorded  by Rosenthal. Contrary to popular belief, the moment was not staged. In thirty-one days of brutal fighting, 6,821 Americans died, including  three of the flag-raisers. Rosenthal inscribed this print to Wyoming  Democratic Senator Joseph O’Mahoney.

Explanation from the Library of Congress.

A Few Good Things Happen and Now a Positive Attitude Takes Over

Weekly initial unemployment claims have dropped to their lowest level since 2008 at 348,000.  Apparently few people had forecast this low number.  Added to that General Motors earnings for 2011 were $7.6 billion. US home construction rises 1.5% in January.  Politicians are now talking about social issues rather than the state of the economy.

All of these positive news items are beginning to affect American behavior.  Instead of gloom there is a renewed positive attitude.

Positive attitude helps to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If you adopt it as a way of life, it will bring constructive changes into your life, and makes them happier, brighter and more successful. With a positive attitude you see the bright side of life, become optimistic and expect the best to happen. It is certainly a state of mind that is well worth developing and strengthening.

Positive attitude manifests in the following ways:

Positive thinking.

Constructive thinking.

Creative thinking.

Expecting success.

Optimism.

Motivation to accomplish your goals.

Being inspired.

Choosing happiness.

Not giving up.

Looking at failure and problems as blessings in disguise.

Believing in yourself and in your abilities.

Displaying self-esteem and confidence.

Looking for solutions.

Seeing opportunities.

A positive attitude leads to happiness and success and can change your whole life. If you look at the bright side of life, your whole life becomes filled with light. This light affects not only you and the way you look at the world, but also your whole environment and the people around you. If it is strong enough, it becomes contagious.

The benefits of a positive attitude:

Helps achieving goals and attaining success.

Success achieved faster and more easily.

More happiness.

More energy.

Greater inner power and strength.

The ability to inspire and motivate yourself and others.

Fewer difficulties encountered along the way.

The ability to surmount any difficulty.

Life smiles at you.

People respect you.

Negative attitude says: you cannot achieve success.
Positive attitude says: You can achieve success.

If you have been exhibiting a negative attitude and expecting failure and difficulties, it is now the time to change the way you think. It is time to get rid of negative thoughts and behavior and lead a happy and successful life. Why not start today? If you have tried and failed, it only means that you have not tried enough.

Developing a positive attitude that will lead you to happiness and success:

– Choose to be happy.

– Look at the bright side of life.

– Choose to be and stay optimistic.

– Find reasons to smile more often.

– Have faith in yourself and in the Power of the Universe.

– Contemplate upon the futility of negative thinking and worries.

– Associate yourself with happy people.

– Read inspiring stories.

– Read inspiring quotes.

– Repeat affirmations that inspire and motivate you.

– Visualize only what you want to happen.

– Learn to master your thoughts.

– Learn concentration and meditation.

Four Cylinder and Hybrid Cars will be the Fad in 2012

I just drove past my neighborhood gas station.  It’s an ARCO station and is about eight to ten cents less than other major brands.  The price has gone up four cents from yesterday.  The new price for regular is $3.73 9/10 per gallon.

ABC News had an item on its nightly report saying that the price of a gallon could reach $5.00 in some cities.  Specifically named were Chicago and San   Francisco.  Their web site confirms that prediction.

Our new car is a four cylinder Nissan Altima.  It has a promise of 23 MPG city and 32 MPG highway.  Most of our driving will be on city streets.  The Prius V will is rated at 42 MPG in the city, and 38 on the highway.  The next door neighbors have a new Chevrolet Tahoe.  It has an EPA-estimated 15 MPG city, 21 highway.

I am looking forward to a new Prius V!

A Time to be Optimistic

The stock market had a very good run up during January (Dow Jones increased almost 1.25% and the S&P 500 was up by almost 1.5% today alone) and unemployment dropped by .2% in January.  Both are hopeful signs that our economy is in a recovery mode.  Along with those two events there were others that support the notion that our economy is on the mend.

Let’s go with this and be happy.  We all know there are many negative indicators but optimism can be contagious.  If the public believes that the nation is on an upswing they start behaving positively and that is reflected in behavior.  Car sales are up, retail sales are up, and even credit card spending is up (that might not be so good for individuals).

 Don’t listen to politicians and don’t watch the 6 o’clock news.  Those people offer a string of negativity.

No matter who wins the Super Bowl the advertising will be just as much fun as the game.  After all this is reportedly the warmest winter in 30 years.  Know that spring is just six weeks away.

Buying a New Car

I was a purchasing agent before retiring.  I held that position for seven years.  I like negotiating a “deal.”  So it was great fun shopping for a new car.  Unlike the previous two cars, that were used and bought from car rental companies that refuse to negotiate a price, I was now in the driver’s seat on pricing.  Translation: if you don’t want to negotiate I am going elsewhere.

However, car shopping is also a passion buy.  You see a car that is just what you want and suddenly that desire takes over your sense of reason.  That OMG moment hit both the lovely wife and me.  There was the car that was almost perfect.

The consequence was that I did not pin the salesman to the wall demanding the very lowest price.  That would be a price I may not have obtained.  However, I made an offer of 18% off the sticker price and he countered (after conferring with his boss) with a 13% off the sticker price.

XM radio and a Bose sound system makes my wife very happy.  Making your wife happy is more than half the battle!