Saving Happiness
Saving Happiness
Jiab Wasserman Humble Dollar November 4, 2020
RESEARCHERS HAVE spent decades probing the connection between money and happiness. For instance, a much-cited 2010 study by academics Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton found that folks tend to feel happier the more money they make—but only up to a point, which they estimated to be about $75,000 a year.
But using only income to measure the link between money and happiness is incomplete. Another study, entitled “How Your Bank Balance Buys Happiness,” analyzed the connection to people’s “cash on hand.” The researchers found that having more money in checking and savings accounts was associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. But similar to the income studies, so-called liquid wealth appeared to be subject to diminishing returns, with the impact on life satisfaction tapering off as folks have more.
Which brings me to tennis. We recently moved from Granada, Spain, to Alicante, which is about 220 miles to the east and right on the Mediterranean. Alicante has milder weather that’s conducive to outdoor sports all year round, so most apartment complexes have tennis courts. My husband Jim accused me of looking for our new apartment based on the condition of the tennis courts first and the apartment second. Yes, I love playing tennis.
I also have a fondness for tennis analogies. I think saving money is like playing good tennis defense, while making more money is like playing offense. There are plenty of YouTube videos of the best winning shots, but relatively few that focus on the defensive skill that’s needed to keep the ball in play. Playing defense isn’t flashy. Yet Novak Djokovic, arguably the world’s top player, is renowned for his defensive play and for his ability to turn defense into offense.
Along the same lines, making more money, moving up the corporate ladder and building your own business are all exciting. People love to talk about such successes and to show off what this money has bought them, whether it’s the new car or the bigger house. But they never pull out their latest portfolio statement and say, “Look at my balance.” There’s nothing showy about saving money. We often celebrate a pay raise, a promotion or a business success, but we seldom celebrate when we’ve maxed out our 401(k) plan or reached a financial milestone.
In tennis, playing defense is mostly about limiting your mistakes, while waiting for the opportunity to strike. In football, it’s said that “defense wins championships.” Isn’t it the same in life? Progress—and ultimate success—are typically achieved through hundreds of smart, boring, stay-the-course decisions, rather than through flashy gambles.
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TNT:
Mot: Christmas 1881
Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors.
It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas.
TNT:
Tishwash: The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve
A beautiful read during this magical season
The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.
He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.
TNT:
Mot: One of the most famous Christmas scenes in movie history was filmed in secret
One of the most famous Christmas scenes in movie history was filmed in secret, right in front of thousands of New Yorkers who didn’t know what was going on.
When you watch Miracle on 34th Street, you’re not looking at a Hollywood set or paid extras. You’re seeing a real moment from 1946, captured as it happened.
Director George Seaton decided not to use a studio and instead put his cast in the real Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
TNT:
Mot: Christmas 1881
Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their
means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were
genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him
that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the
world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy
me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that
night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we
could read in the Bible.
.When Massachusetts Banned Christmas
Christopher Klein
Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch had nothing on the 17th-century Puritans, who actually banned the public celebration of Christmas in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for an entire generation.
The pious Puritans who sailed from England in 1630 to found the Massachusetts Bay Colony brought with them something that might seem surprising for a group of devout Christians—contempt for Christmas.
In a reversal of modern practices, the Puritans kept their shops and schools open and churches closed on Christmas, a holiday that some disparaged as “Foolstide.”
15 Ways to Safe Guard Sudden Wealth
In this Alux.com video we will be answering the following questions:
What to do with money?
What to do if you suddenly get money?
What to do if you inherit a large sum of money?
DJ: DID YOU KNOW?
There is a difference between desire and desperation. Wanting and wishing for something to happen doesn’t make it come true or change reality.
I take issue with Intel providers feeding off the desperation of those who have been put into a mindset of hope they have created.
Twenty years ago most would have been happy enjoying a moment of solitude watching a good movie laying in bed. But now its become torture because we want so much more.
Excessive want is a form of desperation. It’s like our conscious state has been reduced to this toxic blend of hope and uncertainty.
![ZPMXORF7YZCTTGN2JVPJATYOSU[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/fc814dfb-1b96-48cb-a88b-11e0cfc7cbb3/ZPMXORF7YZCTTGN2JVPJATYOSU%5B1%5D.jpg)
How Popeye’s Obsession With Spinach Was Created From Glaring Misprint
Mistake from scientist led to signature feature of iconic cartoon
Popeye reaches for a can of spinach in a still from an unidenitified Popeye film, c. 1945. (Image by Paramount Pictures/Courtesy of Getty Images) (Paramount Pictures, Getty Images)
One of the most iconic cartoons of all time is “Popeye the Sailor,” and believe it or not, there is a day that has been created to honor the fictional character.
That day is today, but before any fans of the cartoon delve into celebrating Popeye The Sailor Man Day, they might not know how spinach consumption became the source of Popeye’s strength and a signature staple of the cartoon.
POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY | January 17
POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY
January 17 marks the 95th Birthday of the world’s most famous spinach loving, nautical hero — it's Popeye the Sailor Man! Today, we are taking epic strides to honor this legendary sailor who is tough and fit with tons of grit, as one of America’s most renown, pop-culture icons. After all, he yam what he yam!
#PopeyeTheSailorManDay
Popeye is the seeming underdog with bulging forearms, a mean uppercut, and a love of canned spinach. He is a defender of the weak and protector of those he loves. As the embodiment of strength and fitness, Popeye inspires us all to work hard, care for others, be persistent, and stay strong to the finish. Of course, all with the help of a hefty amount of spinach. In 2024, we are celebrating 95 years of this iconic figure, and the timeless inspiration Popeye has brought to billions of people.
Popeye was created by Elzie Crisler (E.C) Segar and made his first appearance in the comic strip "Thimble Theatre" on January 17, 1929. Originally created as a minor character, Popeye quickly became a super star. By 1938, the comic changed its name to “Popeye,” creating one of the most iconic cultural comic strips of all time.
.TNT:
Mot: THE LITTLE WHITE ENVELOPE:
"It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.
It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.
Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
![nutcracker-2[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/1608922081926-CUVLU4VHII7C44Z2S8L0/nutcracker-2%5B1%5D.jpg)
A Brief History of How Nutcracker Dolls Became A Christmas Symbol for the Ages
Around the start of December, it’s not unusual to see decorative nutcrackers on store shelves, arranged on mantelpieces, hanging from Christmas trees, and even decorating holiday sweaters. For some, their colorful outfits, hand-painted faces, and tufts of white hair are the very definition of Christmas cheer. But have you ever wondered how these nutcrackers got to be so popular, and why people usually only bring them out at Christmastime? The answer involves German literature, a Russian ballet, and lots of generous American G.I.s.
From Basic to Beautiful
Humans have been using tools to crack nuts for thousands of years. The earliest designs were merely two pieces of wood joined by leather or a metal hinge, but as the centuries progressed, artisans started to create figurative designs for nutcrackers, such as brass crocodiles in India and cast-iron squirrels in England.
Santa Claus Images History
Lorraine Boissoneault December 19, 2018
A Civil War Cartoonist Created the Modern Image of Santa Claus as Union Propaganda
Thomas Nast is legendary for his political cartoons, but he’s also responsible for the jolly St. Nick we know today
You could call it the face that launched a thousand Christmas letters. Appearing on January 3, 1863, in the illustrated magazine Harper’s Weekly, two images cemented the nation’s obsession with a jolly old elf. The first drawing shows Santa distributing presents in a Union Army camp.
A NEW CHRISTMAS STORY . . .This story is better than any greeting card.
The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been
anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to
him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.
He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last
hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless
man stepped through.
Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his
customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank
you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy,
I'll just go."
"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.
America's Story Told by 1,500 Drones 🇺🇸 | America 250 Drone Show
Open Sky drone Light Shows: 7-4-2026
To celebrate America's 250th Anniversary, Open Sky Productions created a breathtaking drone light show that transforms the night sky into a living story of our nation's history, values, and spirit.
Using 1,500 synchronized drones, this one-of-a-kind production brings iconic American imagery to life, from the American Flag and Founding Fathers to the Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, and other powerful symbols that have shaped our country for 250 years.