Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Some good news. American has climbed the list of the happiest countries in the world from 19 in 2021 to 14 in 2022. In 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 it has either been 18th or 19th on the list so why the jump this year?
Let me add, that worldwide, the happiness numbers increased by 25%. The article I read said it was because during the pandemic we were participating in, seeing or hearing about people extending themselves for others. Volunteering, donations, and single acts of caring increased by significant numbers. Here are some of the stories:
The American Red Cross had 78,000 new volunteers. In Italy it was 60,000, Kenya’s Ready2Help got 48,000 new members, and so on. Even Tuvalu, an island country with no cases of Covid-19 got over 130 new volunteers.
A factory in India retooled to make medical-grade liquid oxygen canisters which they gave away free of charge.
People going to restaurants for pick up or delivery gave larger than usual tips. One man left a $3,000 tip and asked that it be spread over all of the waitstaff.
When the Jersey City eatery Wüstbar planned to close while most of his staff self quarantined, his neighbor, the owner of Virile Barber Shop, worked shifts to keep the restaurant going.
Medical practitioners who were retired jumped back into practice. One of them was the Irish Prime Minister.
One of the treatments for Covid-19 is to receive plasma from people recovered from Covid-19. The New York Jewry was particularly hit hard with Covid-19. Between the plasma taken from them and Jewish communities across the country they provided half the plasma used in the U.S.
The Four Seasons in Manhattan gave away open hotel rooms to medical providers who lived outside of the city so they could rest during the times they would normally have to travel.
A groom’s health was failing and the hospital staff, stretched thin with too many Covid cases, pulled together a bedside social distancing wedding including tuxedo tee-shirts for the groom and best man and music. The groom rallied.
Scientist were desperately trying to create a vaccine and needed volunteers willing to contract Covid-19. Thousands of young people rushed to help. Abie Rohrig, a 20-year-old college student told CNN, “I know that there are risks, and if I were to do this, and it were to go poorly, then that would be terrible, my family would be really sad…but someone has to step up. It seems like this just needs to happen.”
But there was more than being aware of altruistic activity; new work at home adjustments, while being challenging at times, also provided new opportunities. “The kids are helping around the house more,” “I’m in touch with my family who live far away,” or, “My husband and I take more walks, resulting in more time together.” Sixty percent of fathers surveyed felt closer to their children. People I know learned to play an instrument, started better health habits, did DIY projects, craft projects, art.
I don’t mean to minimize the losses we have experienced with Covid 19 but only to say, the world still holds promise and joy and we feel it with more abundance than when we started out.
Continue to be safe and enjoy this summer,
Kayla
