Having suffered through a plague of mild to severe unhappiness these last few weeks, I was glad to see my mood may be changing. According to this study, happiness and well-being are U-shaped over a person's lifetime, and "happiness among American men and women reaches its estimated minimum at approximately ages 49 and 45 respectively." So any minute now things should pick up.
Of course, for European men and women, the ages are lower—44 and 43. I'm not sure if it's something in the air, in which case I'm overdue for euphoria, or if actual nationality plays a role. Maybe you have to be eligible for pension benefits in order to suffer an earlier onset of happiness in Europe.
One of the reasons suggested for such a U-shaped happiness scale is that "individuals learn to adapt to their strengths and weaknesses, and in mid-life quell the unfeasible aspirations of their youth." All you youngsters, beware your unfeasible aspirations. They will kick you in the teeth every time. Then you have bad teeth.
On a related note, I hope that when I'm 59 I'm not only deliriously happy but also that I look as good as Stevie Nicks. Wow. Where can I get some of this cocaine stuff she mentions?
