States of Happiness

The Center for Disease Control recently released a study of the happiest states in the US and I found the results to be very interesting. The top 5 states were as follows:

1. Louisiana

2. Hawaii (duh)

3. Florida

4. Tennessee (holla!)

5. Arizona

Louisiana ranked number 1 on the list? After all the state has been through in the past few years, all the adversity and pain, the residents of Louisiana believe themselves to be satisfied and happy with their lives.

Researchers found some patterns in the results as well. Sunny states ranked higher than those with little sunshine. States with warmer climates, lower crime rates and better air quality also affected the rankings.

What I found interesting is that after a weekend of being regailed with all the many, many fabulous aspects of the state of Colorado (and it is a great state, don't get me wrong) that it ranked at #23. Despite it being the most educated state per capita, the city of Denver having an average of 300 sunny days per year!

Hawaii being #2 is a no-brainer. Why wouldn't you be happy living there?

Florida I can also understand. It's sunny, beachy, lots of outdoor activity and they boast several cities whose median income is among the highest in the country.

Then comes my little ole' state of Tennessee. We're happy people! Just like the folks in Louisiana, we are not among the richest, the most educated, our states certainly have their issues; but by golly, we're happy. I love this! I've always said that rednecks from the South are more jolly than the Northern country folk. Now I have proof!

I also thought that Arizona was an unlikely winner. But the striking desert landscape, warm sunshine and low cost of living in AZ apparently make its residents very satisfied with their lives. I've been there a few times and I really like it too!

Also intriguing were the states that ranked at the bottom of the list. New York state was dead last. Researchers attribute this to stress, cost living, weather and city congestion, among many other factors.

And California ranked 46th! The Governator has straight up lied to us all! Cali is a stressful place to be! They apparently don't surf all day or lounge on the beach for a living. What a shock! As Chelsea Lately said last night "California, why you so sad girl?"

I think that this study confirms some things that I already knew. A simple life is in many ways a good life. The ability to breathe fresh air, walk out into wild, open spaces, and warm your face in the sunshine really does feed satisfaction into our lives.