On the Other Hand by Mark Rushton
There reposes on a shelf in my house a large box-like ornament, on its side inscribed in faux antique lettering, “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.”
Seems, according to Stats Canada, there isn’t much clapping going on in British Columbia, and apparently none at all in Vancouver, despite an international acknowledgement as the world’s most livable city.
Over four years between 2009 and 2013 Stats Canada surveyed approximately 340,000 people in 33 cities across the nation, asking them to rate their happiness of where they lived. Vancouver was at the bottom of the list!
Apparently, respondents found it hard to meet people, and friendliness isn’t one of the bounties of living in an ideal climate, with scenery that’s hard to beat.
Considering virtually everyone is focused on their smartphones, or minds are filled via earbuds with solitary music, who can be surprised that it’s difficult to meet or begin conversations? It is the “selfie” generation – one that appears to have no bounds of age. Far simpler, I’m thinking, to text or tweet or whatever else one does on their portable computers ostensibly disguised as phones than look up, smile and say Hi.
On the other hand, Abbotsford residents, despite living in a city known for its high unemployment rate, rank well above Vancouverites on their ‘happy meters.’ Our fair burg settled in at number 24, one place less happy than those living in ‘Winterpeg.’
The only B.C. city to rank in the top third of the 33 surveyed was Kelowna, understandable if you like wine, water and warm weather. That it was 12th on the happiness scale behind such cities as Sudbury, Sherbrooke and Saskatoon is a bit unexpected . . . must be all the free WiFi available on tasting room decks.
The interpretation of happiness, of course, is very subjective. It means, mainly, contentment and joy and how you incorporate those two words into your life. For many, if you don’t have EVERYTHING you want, then contentment and thus happiness is elusive. In other words, is it really too hard to be happy with what you have?
Despite Stats Canada’s survey to the contrary, I find it very difficult to believe that most people in British Columbia aren’t happy with their lives. We each have only one life on this Earth, so to spend the entire time being unhappy is a flagrant waste.
Perhaps, rather than bemoaning their lack of happiness, people should try singing the child’s song mentioned in the intro. I know from witnessing the joy and contentment on a mother’s face when she sings it to her infant, that happiness can be achieved with the simplest of actions.
What I was not aware of until this survey was released Monday (you can read it in detail on Statistics Canada’s website) is that there is, celebrated every March 20, an International Day of Happiness. I guess, as it coincides with the first day of spring, there is reason enough to be happy that winter is finally over – at least according to the solstice.
And if that doesn’t put a smile on your face or a little joy in your heart, then it’s time to listen to Bobby McFerrin’s song:
Here’s a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy
markrushton@abbynews.com