Jim’s Comments (group member since Sep 07, 2017)

Jim’s comments from the BCC_bookgroup group.

My brother posted on FB about this Harvard study... it points to "deep friendship" as a key, to being happy....


http://thepowerofideas.ideapod.com/75...



So what keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction and he lays it all bear in the Ted talk below.

So what is the number one factor in your happiness and wellbeing? According to Waldinger:

“The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier.”

Yep, the biggest predictor of your happiness and fulfilment overall in life is, basically, love.

Specifically, the study showed that having someone you can rely upon helps your nervous systems relax, helps your brain stay healthy and reduces emotional pain.

The data also clearly found that those who feel lonely are more likely to see their physical health decline earlier and die younger.

“It’s not just the number of friends you have, and it’s not whether or not you’re in a committed relationship,” says Waldinger. “It’s the quality of your close relationships that matters.”


It doesn’t matter whether you have a huge group friends, or if you’re in the perfect romantic relationship, it’s the quality of the relationships that counts – how much depth and honesty exists within them; the extent to which you can relax and be seen for who you truly are.

only slightly related to the "Sheltered in the Heart" book...

Have you all seen the PBS film which just came out, "My Love, Don't Cross that River"... about a Korean couple, (an arranged marriage) who've lived together as best of friends for so many years. [ It's the "late night viewing" that both Diane and I saw... and, man... it kept us up, the rest of the night!! ].

See:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/blog/pressroom...

it's a statement on "deep friendship", albeit yes married... and, how they face his oncoming death. Man, I'd hope to have that sort of friendship... in my older years, with my spouse!!!

so... which friend did YOU think of immediately when starting Gunella's book?!?? I wasn't just presuming she'd meant a spouse.

But, upon further reflection, is seems like (for me) a spouse is the best fit for the kind of deep friendship she's describing.

Sheltered in the Heart