Pursuit of Happiness

Over the past year, I have been on an ongoing Positive Psychology kick reading books like Learned Optimism (by University of Pennsylvania's Martin Seligman), Happier (by Harvard professor Tal Ben-Shahar) and, most recently, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World (the funniest of the three by NPR foreign correspondent Eric Weiner).

Many of the elements across all three books are consistent (although the approach varies widely); yet, the grump's guide concludes that relationships are one of the greatest contributors to happiness. In other words, the more money you accrue enables you to move to your McMansion with a larger yard in a gated community which, in turn, diminishes the time spent in community with -- and helping -- others. In so doing, contrary to popular opinion, your happiness actually decreases.

As always, I continue to ponder how to make Rochester one of the happiest places on earth mainly because, as I've stated before, I honestly believe we have all of the raw materials (e.g., natural beauty, a talented workforce, strong educational system). Then, while reading this book I realized: wouldn't it be interesting to apply the "adopt a highway" program to our inner city?

Interested residents of each of the suburbs (Pittsford, Fairport, Gates-Chili, West Irondequoit, Brockport, etc.) could "adopt" a section of the city that may be struggling (e.g., 19th Ward, Jay Street, Avenue D) and work hand-in-hand with residents, as well as the city government, to envision AND enable a better future on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood or block-by-block basis (as each presumably has a unique culture and differing needs).

Not only might fostering these personal relationships create a real bridge between the residents of the city and the suburbs but, by reaching out and serving others to build a better community, the individual participants should essentially raise their levels of happiness. It's a win: win situation, no?

It's a personal form of "share the wealth" with wide-ranging benefits for the entire population. It's Rochester's successful ARTWalk program on steroids and with broad-based participation.

Might anyone else be interested in this?