I was happy and then Substack asked me three times to authenticate myself to leave you a comment and I was easily pushed off my pedestal. I think that's a thing with Americans (or me, from a long line of Germanic/Norwegian dark side half empty people wherein I'm the loony lighthearted optimist, ironically) is that we can be slowly grated upon and easily pushed off our Good Vibes (tm) based on what happens. Mexicans it seems, don't have high expectations. Americans REALLY do and only like 3% of them are on that ladder rung. The rest seem to be in the striving and complaining and that never a happy make.
Not sure about your area but every single person in this town, even those who wake up with a mouth full of sand says, 'todo Bien, gracias a Dios!' when you ask them how they are doing. Every. Single. Person. Habit? Maybe. But Americans like to tell you what sucks in their day and that's become a habit too. *side note: I've never been polled. Gallup or otherwise. And I agree, content is about all I can commit to. Although I did drive around yesterday tossing weenies out of the car for stray dogs on dangerous side streets and that was a certain kind of joy. In a cranberry 18 year old PTCruiser with a broken windshield, how can you feel anything but. :-) good article.
I also have the experience where, when asked, everyone is "all is well". Although I also hear "I am tired" a lot. People in Mexico work hard. Long hours, lots of side hustles. But other than tired, I almost never hear a complaint. Happiness in Mexico seems to be a long current, a thread that reaches around everything and everybody that brings joy and community. It is not all about what happened 10 minutes ago. Oh and PTCruisers full of doggie treats? Can't think of any greater joy than that!
The meat counter lady will give me a CANSADA occasionally, I rub her shoulders. Another guy will say muy Poco dinero but it's rare. I also don't trust Airbnb reviews or Google reviews from Mexicans for this reason. They don't complain (at least publicly) and they also almost don't feel they have the right to leave a review about a house rental that was brief or a restaurant. One friend said, why am I doing that for free? i'll never go back. And that's good advice. hahaha. Claudia gave all the women of Mexico 18-62 a 2500 peso cash payment this month did you see that? Even if you're not a mom, just a woman. Just register on the cell phone and then direct deposit. Meanwhile the USA talking about trillions of dollars missing and no one accountable yet. ASking folks to pay IN so they can lose some more. Sigh.
Has a Mexican I’m proud of my people and culture but there is something that always came out of my mind when we are talking about happiness and joy in Mexico, most of the people in Mexico believe that they economic level is High even if the don’t have a peso to eat or drink something, I call this the price of happiness and ignorance, since a 90s this country has going trough al lot of life changes, political changes ,economic changes, climate changes and even what is *Happiness Changes Mean*, Mexico is full of great people, food and culture, but also full of people who think that they are rich , well paid and no need of the world, the price of ignorance in this place is really high.
Interesting Elias, the "price of ignorance". Perhaps not knowing what you don't have - rather than being told again and again about what you don't have (and, of course, should have) is what drives the world crazy with unfulfilled expectations. It makes a lot of sense. Thank you for reading, and for your comment!
I agree that the pole is hard to make real conclusions from. But if you walk around your own town, look at people in the grocery stores or banks, and notice how many people look relaxed or are smiling or maybe even laughing and enjoying the moment… I would have to agree that I see a lot more of that in Mexico than I do in the United States.
Yes yes, that is my experience as well. Generally speaking (and of course there are exceptions!), people seem much more relaxed here, much more receptive to positive energy. Is it the tacos? Maybe 😄
People seem pretty happy here, certainty more than in the USA. Bullet to square mile ratio is what? Same? Less? More? I don't know but I do know that people here tend to smile a lot, say hello. Maybe that's friendlier not happier, not sure, but I'll take your chart at its word, even if the questions used to paint it were somewhat skewed. Feliz Día!
Bullet to square mile ratio? Hmmm. Interesting. Of course we'll have to convert it all to the metric system. Regardless, yes, people do tent to smile more here. I have even witnessed expressions of joy. Shocking, I know. Thanks for reading and for the comment, friend.
I was happy and then Substack asked me three times to authenticate myself to leave you a comment and I was easily pushed off my pedestal. I think that's a thing with Americans (or me, from a long line of Germanic/Norwegian dark side half empty people wherein I'm the loony lighthearted optimist, ironically) is that we can be slowly grated upon and easily pushed off our Good Vibes (tm) based on what happens. Mexicans it seems, don't have high expectations. Americans REALLY do and only like 3% of them are on that ladder rung. The rest seem to be in the striving and complaining and that never a happy make.
Not sure about your area but every single person in this town, even those who wake up with a mouth full of sand says, 'todo Bien, gracias a Dios!' when you ask them how they are doing. Every. Single. Person. Habit? Maybe. But Americans like to tell you what sucks in their day and that's become a habit too. *side note: I've never been polled. Gallup or otherwise. And I agree, content is about all I can commit to. Although I did drive around yesterday tossing weenies out of the car for stray dogs on dangerous side streets and that was a certain kind of joy. In a cranberry 18 year old PTCruiser with a broken windshield, how can you feel anything but. :-) good article.
I also have the experience where, when asked, everyone is "all is well". Although I also hear "I am tired" a lot. People in Mexico work hard. Long hours, lots of side hustles. But other than tired, I almost never hear a complaint. Happiness in Mexico seems to be a long current, a thread that reaches around everything and everybody that brings joy and community. It is not all about what happened 10 minutes ago. Oh and PTCruisers full of doggie treats? Can't think of any greater joy than that!
The meat counter lady will give me a CANSADA occasionally, I rub her shoulders. Another guy will say muy Poco dinero but it's rare. I also don't trust Airbnb reviews or Google reviews from Mexicans for this reason. They don't complain (at least publicly) and they also almost don't feel they have the right to leave a review about a house rental that was brief or a restaurant. One friend said, why am I doing that for free? i'll never go back. And that's good advice. hahaha. Claudia gave all the women of Mexico 18-62 a 2500 peso cash payment this month did you see that? Even if you're not a mom, just a woman. Just register on the cell phone and then direct deposit. Meanwhile the USA talking about trillions of dollars missing and no one accountable yet. ASking folks to pay IN so they can lose some more. Sigh.
Has a Mexican I’m proud of my people and culture but there is something that always came out of my mind when we are talking about happiness and joy in Mexico, most of the people in Mexico believe that they economic level is High even if the don’t have a peso to eat or drink something, I call this the price of happiness and ignorance, since a 90s this country has going trough al lot of life changes, political changes ,economic changes, climate changes and even what is *Happiness Changes Mean*, Mexico is full of great people, food and culture, but also full of people who think that they are rich , well paid and no need of the world, the price of ignorance in this place is really high.
Interesting Elias, the "price of ignorance". Perhaps not knowing what you don't have - rather than being told again and again about what you don't have (and, of course, should have) is what drives the world crazy with unfulfilled expectations. It makes a lot of sense. Thank you for reading, and for your comment!
I agree that the pole is hard to make real conclusions from. But if you walk around your own town, look at people in the grocery stores or banks, and notice how many people look relaxed or are smiling or maybe even laughing and enjoying the moment… I would have to agree that I see a lot more of that in Mexico than I do in the United States.
Yes yes, that is my experience as well. Generally speaking (and of course there are exceptions!), people seem much more relaxed here, much more receptive to positive energy. Is it the tacos? Maybe 😄
I’m always happy to see a reference to Dylan in someone’s post. 😎
lol - noted, and tucked away for future reference!
People seem pretty happy here, certainty more than in the USA. Bullet to square mile ratio is what? Same? Less? More? I don't know but I do know that people here tend to smile a lot, say hello. Maybe that's friendlier not happier, not sure, but I'll take your chart at its word, even if the questions used to paint it were somewhat skewed. Feliz Día!
Bullet to square mile ratio? Hmmm. Interesting. Of course we'll have to convert it all to the metric system. Regardless, yes, people do tent to smile more here. I have even witnessed expressions of joy. Shocking, I know. Thanks for reading and for the comment, friend.