Mary Holm is a common sense writer on the topic of financial literacy and recently wrote an article that was published in The Herald last Saturday entitled ‘Money Can’t Buy Happiness’. Most people would agree with this statement but maybe when pushed, see that the world and in particular the social media world, makes wealth and lots of it a desirable commodity. These constant images create conflict with what is real and what perceived happiness may look like. This messaging is not helpful.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I agree with most of what she had to say. Job satisfaction and doing something that you enjoy doing is a big start down the path to happiness. Most jobs that delivered satisfaction involved an ability to be creative or provide significant interaction with people where relationships and connections create a sense of belonging and a wider sense of value.

Another high scorer on the happiness radar was relationships between couples and family members. More money does not bring more happiness particularly if that ‘more money’ means that more and more you are not part of that relationship or family.

She finished the article with 5 Pointers for Lifelong Well-being. I have added my own spin and thoughts.

1)      Connect with and invest time and energy with those people around you.

My opinion is forget cultivating the 500 plus Facebook or social media friends you have and concentrate on the 5-10 who mean the most and will be there when you need them.

2)      Be active – do physical activity that suits you.

A kick of endorphins and having a healthy mind in a healthy body goes a long way.

3)      Be curious- watch for the beautiful or unusual.

Is our head so full of white noise that we can’t see the stuff that would have captivated our attention as young children? Take time to smell the roses.

4)      Keep learning- anything. It might be a musical instrument, or how to cook.

In some cases, it may even mean relearning something that you were once passionate about.

5)      Give- to a friend or a stranger. Volunteer.

This last one resonates with me and fits with the mantra that at Rutherford we value little acts of human kindness Nothing carries more potential for change in society than individual acts of human kindness.  With those individual acts of human kindness comes an internal sense of happiness and wellbeing.

The last one which is not on the list is to be grateful for what you do have not for what you don’t. Even worse being grateful and keeping it hidden.