It's not about the money, money, money!

This morning, I woke up to find a very interesting article in Today, "Why the Danish mermaid is happier than the Singapore Merlion".  Apparently, the World Happiness Report ranked Denmark as the happiest nation in the world, while we were ranked at number 30.  


Journalist, Avi Liran, tries to find the secret ingredient of the Danes' happiness.   A few stood out.  He says, "Danes tend to focus on what they have, not what they don't have. They don't expect to be happier by buying a bigger house or the latest Louis Vuitton.  They are happy with their small home and bike.  Spending money on socialising with people you care about and creating rich memories is more important to Danes .........Danes do not work and shop around the clock like we do in Singapore. they make time to get outdoors with nature, pursue hobbies and get involved in associations ........investing in experiences, giving and relationships rather than material goods makes humans much happier".

When I read this I couldn't but help feel embarrassed that Singapore's favourite pastime (aside from food) is shopping. Why do we value a person's material possessions more than the person's values itself?  Are we using, as Professor Tim Jackson put it ...

Some people I have spoken to say that if we don't have more money then how will the economy keep going? Well, I think we have to evolve BEYOND money, and when this happens, I'm sure social and environmental problems will be solved.  I will end off with Jessie J's Price Tag song, which popped in my head when I was writing this! Happy Mondays, everyone :-)