Why Elders Smile

New York Times ^ | 12-7-14 | David Brooks

[TurboZamboni]

A few months ago, Ezekiel Emanuel had an essay in The Atlantic saying that, all things considered, he’d prefer to die around age 75. He argued that he’d rather clock out with all his powers intact than endure a sad, feeble decline. The problem is that if Zeke dies at 75, he’ll likely be missing his happiest years. When researchers ask people to assess their own well-being, people in their 20s rate themselves highly. Then there’s a decline as people get sadder in middle age, bottoming out around age 50. But then happiness levels shoot up, so that old people are happier than young people. The people who rate themselves most highly are those ages 82 to 85. Psychologists who study this now famous U-Curve tend to point out that old people are happier because of changes in the brain.

[struwwelpeter]

I’d be pretty happy to see 60.

[TurboZamboni]

Said another way, “If you can’t be thankful for the things you receive, at least be thankful for the things you escape.”