#transportation
The Top Countries on the World #Happiness Report Love Riding #Bicycles
"the report evaluates GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, and other key indicators, one major factor behind these nations’ high rankings is their investment in urban livability—putting people first and prioritizing #sustainable, bike-friendly #infrastructure”
“Riding a #bicycle makes people happy. More #cycling, more #happiness"

https://momentummag.com/the-top-countries-on-the-world-happiness-report-love-riding-bicycles/

SMILE

Hand-painted watercolor
https://karen-kaspar.pixels.com/featured/smile-colorful-word-art-karen-kaspar.html

The World is Kinder than we Think

[Read on Ethical Revolution]

The recently published 2025 World Happiness Report (the 13th edition of the report) has focussed on the impact of caring and sharing on people’s happiness.

Drawing on a study by Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre showing that people are a lot kinder than we might otherwise expect, the research also shows that the more we believe in the kindness of others the happier we will be ourselves.

So do we find ourselves in an unnecessary viscous circle here? And how can we break free? It would appear that the 24 hour news cycle keeps many of us locked in a state of negativity and can harbour the sort of overstated mistrust referred to in the report. A small shift in habit – in the way we consume the information – can make it possible to escape this endless negative cycle whilst remaining connected with world events.

Who is Happiest?

For the eighth successive year Finland has topped the list of the ‘happiest countries’. The UK is 23rd and the USA is 24th – both dropping from previous years.

The director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, who is also professor of economics at the University of Oxford, and an editor of the World Happiness Report, said:

“This year’s report pushes us to look beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth. It turns out that sharing meals and trusting others are even stronger predictors of wellbeing than expected. In this era of social isolation and political polarisation we need to find ways to bring people around the table again — doing so is critical for our individual and collective wellbeing.”

[Via Ethical Revolution]

couldn't agree more ;D #happiness #startrek

For many people living with #dementia, pets and other animals provide comfort and #happiness even when other people cannot.

Good Morning #Canada
I'm a bit late this morning because I slept in. A few extra hours of sleep certainly has an impact on your mood and perhaps explains why Canada in 2024 was ranked the happiest country in the G7 group of nations. Although we slipped to 15th amongst all counties, we remained well above the U.S. in 24th place. I like our chances of rebounding after the federal election, when #PeePee and his negativity disappear.

#CanadaIsAwesome #Happiness
https://www.cicnews.com/2025/03/canada-ranks-happiest-country-in-the-g7-0353149.html#gs.knfpcn

"It is really disheartening to see this, and it links perfectly with the fact that it’s the well-being of youth in America that’s off a cliff, which is driving the drop in the rankings to a large extent" https://fortune.com/well/2025/03/20/americans-miserable-world-happiness-report/ #inequality #trust #happiness

No matter what your pace, adventure at any age.

Adventure at Any Age --> https://pixels.com/featured/adventure-at-any-age-chrystyne-novack.html

See full story in ALT Text about creation.

As we wonder how else we might measure human achievement(s) on a society level, somehow we often return to happiness... so here is a graphic based on the annual Gallup survey on people's happiness (organised by country).

As always the Scandinavians score well, but there are some other notable high (and lows) scores.

"If it's lonely at the top, are you even at the top?"