Vagabundos&Happiness(Wellbeing)

Tomorrow, Linda and I leave for Baja California. We fly from Sacramento to Los Angeles and then to La Paz. The plan is for Fred and Gloria Jones of the Vagabundos to meet us at the airport. We will spend a few days there before traveling to Loreto. Fred and Gloria simply put are the Vagabundos. My next blog will come from somewhere in Baja. I have my running shoes and expect to work out and get in a lot of heat training. I am going to emphasize heat. I will keep you posted.

On the 15th, and in the Wall Street Journal , there is an article titled "Is Happiness Overrated "? There are a few things to be noted. First "eudaimonic well-being" is referred to the type of well-being that comes from engaging in a meaningful activity. On the other hand, the pleasure that comes from an entertaining movie is called "hedonic well-being". As you can see, we are comparing a short-term feeling to something very different . It is about long-term well-being. In my book I'm suggesting that by engaging in a meaningful activity that is passionate is more likely to result in eudaimonic well-being for the individual. Simply put, finding significant meaning in one's life is existential extremely important . What can be better than to have both meaning and passion in your life.

Also important is the benefit from eudaimonic well-being and your health. Research found that having a lot of eudaimonic well-being is associated with lower levels of interleukin-6. This means lower levels of inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Further findings suggest that these individuals live longer(57%), have better mobility, and more likely able to take care of themselves at home. 27% of people 65 and up say they are "very happy" while 20% of people 65 and older say they are "not too happy".

These findings suggest that better health can be found in what we do and how we think about our lives. My book highlights finding meaning, passion, and engaging in aerobic exercise. It's becoming more clear that we have more control than previously thought. How we think, how we challenge our thinking, how we set goals, and the activities we do help define who we are. Health, wellness, passion, meaning, and joy can be within our reach.