European countries have it right on the life-work balance. We all want it in America, but none of us or too few of us have it. So many studies have been done on happiness and stress.
European countries are at the top, for places to live for happiness, why? The countries in Europe take long vacations, have shorter work weeks, have longer maternity leaves, and all have something in common – happier, healthier people.
I have been thinking more and more about healthy living as of late. I wanted to share some thoughts. I have been thinking about the mind body connection and health. Did you know your stress can kill you, if you let it! I want to some day dance at my childrens’ weddings and my grand childrens’, if God is willing. I’m sure you do too.
The more I think, the more I realize, we are really mess up with our views. Our view of work, relaxation and life in this county is very distorted. The way we want our lives to be, our view how it should be and what we are truly living are exact opposites. We have very distorted views on how life should be in this country. We have it wrong in this country, really, really wrong. We are a “live in the moment” country of people, we think just about the here and now, not down the road. Ask yourself down the road will I be healthy? What can I do today to improve the odds?
In our culture we work, work, work – so we can – buy, buy, buy. So you work more and harder to have a nicer house, drive fancier cars, better schools for your children, better quality health care, better food on the table, and take some fancier vacations. Well it’s all fun and great, but have you ever thought about what all the working is doing to your health. What good is all of it if you die young from hurting your health, by being too stressed.
In European cultures they are a little like us, but the big difference is the vacation time or some call it holiday time over there.
I have friends who are from Europe and their whole approach to living, is more natural and thought out than ours. We are a fast food and rushed country in everything we do. Now I know this is just based on a handful of friends watching them and reading some studies, but I really do like the more natural approach to living.
My European friends will ride their bike to get a few things at the store. I fly in my car there and back.
My European friends have herb gardens and fresh produce. They have taken the time to grown themselves. Mine are dried or shoved in a can or frozen with lovely freezer burn.
My European friends really are much happier than us Americans. I really do think they know more, about how to be happy. So where along the way we have lost this natural living way of being and living?
So how did we as a country get this way and what can we do to change it? Food for thought.