Today is World Happiness Day, which makes me wonder about what this truly means on a global scale. I’m sure we’ve all pondered the question what it means to be happy and how we can strive for the ultimate happy life.
This question of happiness made me wonder about the type of homeless person I feel like we often don’t talk about. The person that wants to live on the street or not have a job because they are happier without being trapped in minimum wage work. They don’t want to be apart of the system that would make them unhappy and they find that there are enough services of food and shelter to survive.
Burundi was ranked as the saddest country in the world, although the Burundians themselves might disagree. Amongst rampant poverty and hunger, Burundians are grounded in community and family where there is space for socialization sharing laughter and ultimately happiness.
Culture in the United States is centered around the free market, where productivity levels are at an all time high although pay compensation is not met. Many work their asses off in order to survive. One could also say happiness is questioned often in this kind of society where there many be no time for community building and socializing.
This makes me think of those “radical” people that chose homelessness as a method of avoiding the American free market.
Is this group of homeless happier? Are they able to live communally and focus on the qualities that foster true happiness like the Burundi people? Are structural changes aimed at creating a more happy society?