Why are we Paying for Happiness and Healthy Lifestyles?
The local dog at the pottery named Gordie
I've been thinking about this topic for a long time, and I strive to incorporate it into all my blog posts. I aim to make my posts as inclusive as possible, recognizing that not everyone has the same privileges and access. This principle is a key reason I started this blog—to share easy and accessible tools for living happier and healthier lives without the need for expensive gadgets.
You'll never see me promoting shakes, nutrition powders, or the latest trends. Instead, I focus on tying healthy lifestyles to affordable or free options that support everyone's journey toward better well-being. In the US, there's a tendency to commoditize health, which I believe is a dead-end. If our goal is a healthier society, the best options must be free and accessible to all. The healthiest and happiest places often have supportive lifestyles embedded in their culture.
Here's something to think about as you go about your day: when you see something on social media, ask yourself if they’re trying to sell you something. You’ll be surprised at how much content is driven by sales or revenue-focused initiatives. Avoid those tactics, as they're likely using fear to push their products.
When you start feeling better, reflect on why. Make a list of activities that contribute to your well-being. Many of these might be free, like reading, laughing with a friend, or petting a dog in the park. Create a list of these activities and highlight the free ones—try to incorporate them as much as possible. For me, it's sitting outside with my dogs, hiking, taking pictures of nature, or bumping into a friend randomly.
Bonus round: I highly recommend the series "Blue Zones." It showcases simple people with their basic needs met, who often have strong communities and spend a lot of time socializing and contributing to their communities. This is something the US has lost touch with over the years. We live in our own homes, spend more time alone, have demanding schedules, and less disposable income and time off. This is a universal problem across most of America, and we need to reconnect with our local communities and demand support from our employers, especially if we're remote workers.
Remote work has significantly impacted social interactions. Over the last four years, I’ve realized that most of my relationships are through work, but now I rarely see my colleagues in real life. This isolation is a huge problem, especially for remote workers with other obligations.
My message is this: seek joy in simple, affordable experiences rather than buying into capitalistic promises of happiness. You might find that a coffee with a friend brings more joy than a new health watch. Take a long lunch, walk around the block, and say hi to a neighbor. You'll be surprised at how fulfilling these small interactions can be.
