A recent Gallup Poll, called the Healthways Well-Being Index, has rated Boulder, Colorado, the #1 healthiest and happiest city in the country. It was based on an analysis of 353,000 Americans in 2009. The interviewers asked individuals to assess their jobs, finances, physical health, emotional state and communities.
Having just visited my daughter, Grace Boyle, who lives in Boulder, I was not surprised. The restaurants are excellent, the town is surrounded by boulders, mountains, and forests with Boulder Creek flowing through the center of the town. Boulder is surrounded by a wonderful greenbelt with 120 miles of trails and there are 9 bookstores between 9th and 18th streets. Does reading books make us happier? I’m pretty happy when I spend time in bookstores!
I think the 300 days of sunshine per year in Boulder contributes to feeling happy. In Iowa, I think we have almost 300 days of gray skies. Okay, this isn’t official data but it seems true. I think the sunshine alone adds to their happiness level as I’ve written about in many posts about how 20 minutes/day of skin exposure to sunshine is needed to manufacture Vitamin D in our bodies.
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
Feeling the holiday blues? Visit friends and family (that uplift you), or just step outside and breathe in some fresh air (even if it’s as cold as it is today) and take a walk (even just around the block). This is one simple step that will awaken your seratonin level and sizzle your level of happiness! In this first photo, my arms outspread, hiking in Boulder, Colorado with light coming up over the mountain trail and filling the sky. I felt blessed in the mountainous pine forest, but only after I saw the photo did I notice the angel filling the afternoon sky. My friend, Bob Meyer, is standing behind me. He and his wife, Helena, are avid hikers and owners of a natural skin care company, the Helena Meyer Company in Boulder. Fabulous skincare.
A few other friends I visited in Boulder include Russ and Millie Malloy and their boys, and Heather Squires and daughter, Lauren in photo. Heather used to babysit my daughter 20 years ago, and now Grace babysits for Heather’s daughter!
Loved my time in Boulder, and when not hiking or eating, I worked on my laptop at one of the zillions of coffee shops downtown. Enjoy….
Lenora's Italy Retreat blog | Lenora's Change Limiting Beliefs Website
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