A Long and Sad Life
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
December 10, 2015 10:50am CST
I read the most marvellous news today.
A recent study proves that being happy does NOT make you live longer.
Phew! That is a load off my mind! I mean, for years we have all been told that being happy is key to living a long life. That being angry, sad, etc., will shorten our lifespans and we will die young and miserable, wallowing in our own failure to be happy.
Nope. T'ain't necessarily so. In fact, the original research that once said being happy was key to long life, overlooked an important fact. Sometimes, sick people are unhappy. So naturally, these unhappy sick people die younger - they're already sick!
When they adjusted for that fact, the ages of death for both happy and unhappy people level out.
Makes sense, really, because I know a lot of unhappy, miserable old people and I am chief among them.
And I am going to go on refusing to plaster on that fake smile. I can go on being a miserable, old curmudgeon. Nothing could make me happier.
Happy people live longer, a relationship that’s been documented in a variety of research studies.
18 people like this
18 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
10 Dec 15
I'm so miserable I should be immortal
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
10 Dec 15
@Rollo1 don't I know it - look at my photo - I'm only 12
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
10 Dec 15
Love the last couple of sentences of your article, too darn funny.
3 people like this
@Vintervarg (697)
• Estonia
10 Dec 15
In any case, I think it is better to live a happy life regardless of how long it is going to be. Am I right?
1 person likes this
@much2say (56087)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Dec 15
I believe that. When I was growing up, we had a neighbor whom we always called "Grandma". The poor woman was always miserable - with her family, health - everything in life. I remember when my mom talked to her, she had always included in the conversation that she just wanted to die already. Every week she had wanted to to die because of XYZ and the poor woman lived for YEARS - I think past 100! 
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50524)
• United States
15 Dec 15
I know some very old unhappy people.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
11 Dec 15
They need to do some more investigation and see what they arrive at nice to know thou.
1 person likes this
@marijuana (570)
• Tel Aviv, Israel
10 Dec 15
I am happy for the unhappy people reading this article :) I would choose to die happy :D
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
18 Dec 15
lol Well that just extended my life but hours or days!! I am an old crab so now I can just revel in it!!
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Dec 15
I have a soap box, it is called studies and statistics, I shall refrain from stepping on it, but just say that I think chocolate is the key to longer life.
