A friend of mine pointed me to this talk on Why are we happy? by Dan Gilbert as part of the TED series. The gist of the talk is that people are happy regardless of external circumstances, and that we are happiest when we are stuck (although the situation may be objectively terrible). So the person who wins the lottery, and the person who has an accident and becomes a paraplegic, are equally happy after a year!
Part of the immigrant experience is that one is constantly asking oneself: "Is this the right place for me?" I am indeed very lucky to have the choice to decide between two great places - NY and Munich - that are completely different, but charming in their own ways. But that choice makes me think, and not completely settle down in any place.
Maybe freedom and choice really do not make people happy.
Part of the immigrant experience is that one is constantly asking oneself: "Is this the right place for me?" I am indeed very lucky to have the choice to decide between two great places - NY and Munich - that are completely different, but charming in their own ways. But that choice makes me think, and not completely settle down in any place.
Maybe freedom and choice really do not make people happy.
