this seems like unreality.

we spent about a month in India in the mid 2010s. everyone there was smiling and seemed more content than people in North America by far. even the man with proteus syndrome that I gave money to was smiling.

right now in NA, people are quite angry, generally. Europe too. reified postmodernism combined with bureaucratic money grabs has robbed youth of the ability to even get a down payment together. it takes 29 years on average to get a down payment saved in Canada now.

this chart looks like a wealth per capita chart that has been edited to show 'happiness'

happiness is not dependent on wealth in fact, wealth can and does make people unhappy. it increases worry about sustaining a wealthy life and that life is becoming more difficult to sustain.

things and money do not make happiness. things are exciting for a few moments and then we just want more things. money is the same.

happiness is not measurable in any reliable or consistent sense.

happiness (contentment really) arrives on its own when we are intimate with this moment.

we can not generate happiness.

my perma smile 'happy' neighbour is miserable under her glued on fake smile and fake smiles only move in one direction and that is towards a frown.

#wisdom #genX