Dr. Dixie van de Flier Davis
Happiness
Aurora Mental Health Center (spring, 2009) says:
When those around us are happy, we can feel it. It is like standing near a fire, the warmth spreads to all of those gathered around it. In fact according to a recent study that examined the happiness of almost 5,000 people over 20 years, your own happiness can affect people you don’t even know! The study was completed by the University of CA in San Diego and found that when you become happy, any friend of yours who lives within a mile becomes 25% more likely to also be happy. Amazingly, they also found that a friend of that friend becomes 10% more likely to be happy and a friend of that friend’s friend has a 5% increased chance of being happy.
No wonder the center began offering free “laugh classes” last year.
Lots of people have written books on how to be happy.
I’ve never really thought about pursuing happiness. But I have observed some things about people I know that are in fact happy.
friendship and family.
There are lots of people like that in the adoption community.
Diane is one of them. Since I’ve known her she has mortgaged her house to pay for mental health services for her adopted children, left a high-powered career she loved in order to be available to them, was laid off from a great job when the economy tanked, and has had a few other setbacks. Nonetheless her eyes sparkle, her voice has a lilting tone, her sense of humor is alive, she is a selfless volunteer, she looks as young as she did the day I met her … and she is genuinely happy.
From what I can tell, being happy is not the goal. It appears to be the byproduct.
Those of us who know Diane sure like being around her. We are warmed by the fire within her.
Do you have a story about someone you know who is happy?
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Learn more about Dixie.
Tags: adopt, Adopting, Adoption Exchange, Adoption Stories, Aurora Mental Health Center, Dixie van de Flier, pursuing happiness, Study on Happiness, University of CA