Sunday, June 7, 2015

State of Well-Being



According to Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, the 50 states are ranked based on "ranking of residents' satisfaction with their lives."

The top 10 states where residents are the most satisfied with their lives are:

1) Alaska
2) Hawaii
3) South Dakota
4) Wyoming
5) Montana
6) Colorado
7) Nebraska
8) Utah
9) New Mexico
10) Texas

The states where residents are the least satisfied with their lives are:

45) Alabama
46) Mississippi
47) Ohio
48) Indiana
49) Kentucky
50) West Virginia

While the top two states are isolated from the continental Lower 48, there seems to be a pattern here -- "middle-western" states are the most satisfied, whereas "middle-eastern" states are the least satisfied,

I have lived in the following states:

11) Minnesota
12) California
18) Wisconsin
20) Arizona
26) Florida
30) Georgia
32) Kansas
41) Missouri
43) Arkansas
44) Tennessee
47) Ohio

One of these days I might figure it out -- satisfaction is not a location, it is a state of mind.
___________

Quote for the Day -- "Happiness is not a goal -- it's a by-product of a life well lived." Eleanor Roosevelt
___________

Bret Burquest is the author of 10 books. He lives in the Ozark Mountains with a few dogs and where moving once again to another state is no longer an option.
___________
-
-

2 comments:

Happy in The Ozarks said...

Bret,

I agree that satisfaction is not a location, it is a state of mind.
I believe that if you were to move half of all Arkansans in this the 43 most satisfied state to Alaska the number one most satisfied state that the % of satisfied people in Alaska would be on a dramatic downslope.

Even though I supposedly dwell among a throng of dissatisfied people moving to another state is also no longer an option for me.
Even if I had that option I wouldn't go to Alaska if I were given a ticket.
However I am intrigued by the concept of owning a home with a view of Russia from the front porch.. (Did she really say that?)

Bret Burquest said...

Arkansas is a very diverse state -- those in the more rural & rugged areas seem quite content to me -- those in places like Little Rock & West Memphis & the southern border with Texas & Louisiana may be more unhappy -- plus, Arkansas people are primarily living (struggling) with less resources & income than many other places.

I like it here -- the folks in my area are terrific -- if you're stuck on a rural road, the person in first car that comes by will often offer help.

But I can do without chiggers & ticks.

BB