No man is an island!
CNN published an article today titled: “Happiness is contagious in social networks.“ Here are a few excerpts:
If you’re feeling great today, you may end up inadvertently spreading the joy to someone you don’t even know. New research shows that in a social network, happiness spreads among people up to three degrees removed from one another. That means when you feel happy, a friend of a friend of a friend has a slightly higher likelihood of feeling happy too.
Also interesting to me – it appears that if you are healthy and happy, there is a larger chance that your friends will become so too! That’s exciting… what we do does make a difference for our friends and family.
“Like happiness, both smoking behavior and obesity seem to spread within three degrees of separation in a social network.”
It’s like your mom always said… who your friends are DO matter. On the road to embracing love, life and your health, it’s good to pick the right friends. And, remember, who you are matters to your friends too!
Embrace Love, Embrace Life, Embrace Your Health!
December 6th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
No thanks. I’ll choose my friends on how they treat me or how we get along, not what their habits are or what their waist size is. And I’ll still go and visit my fat relatives during Christmas.
I’ve got a better idea than CNN. Why do we ship all the fat people, whiney people, and smokers off on to their own island so we health conscious puritans can live without the risk of “becoming infected”.
December 8th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I have all kinds of friends. I don’t let their lifestyles or political beliefs interfere with our friendship. Life is too short. If I can influence someone positively, then that’s good, but it’s not a requisite. The important thing is enjoying the company.
December 8th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I’m pretty healthy and happy, so here, have some!
December 9th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I’m not sure that Joe the Plumber and Cube have got the right idea; it’s more that if you’re feeling happier, it can spread.
Yep, I’m one of those annoyingly chipper people who’ll strike up a conversation whilst waiting at the deli counter, or smile if I’m buying a coffee. Why the hell not?
December 12th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Health is so important and is totally tied to one’s happiness and state of mind.
December 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
kath: I do think I know what you’re saying… I’m a conservative republican and, yet, I can be pleasant to those who are on the other side of the political divide and also to those folks whose poltical ideation I can’t devine. Mostly, it has to do with being polite to strangers which is something I learned as a small child.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
When I’m having one of those days where everything is working out wonderfully, and I’m smiling in the joy of it all, I feel like I get endless smiles coming back to me. I think CNN and your post are right on – thanks!