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Parents with children in city environment

6 Reasons to Raise Your Family in the City

Conventional wisdom tells us that to raise happy children, you need a big house, a lawn, fences, backyards, mudrooms and playrooms. You need a quiet neighborhood and a nice, safe car to travel through it. In other words, you need the suburbs.Or maybe you don't. A growing number of families are choosing to raise their kids in dense urban areas—city centers—rather than retreat to the suburbs. “In 2011, for the first time in nearly a hundred years, the rate of urban population growth outpaced suburban growth, reversing a trend that held steady for every decade since the invention of the automobile,” wrote Leigh Gallagher, author of The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream Is Moving, in a 2013 story in Time magazine.As Columbia associate professor and author ofA Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban AmericaVishaan Chakrabarti, Ph.D., writes in a 2014 New York Times editorial, "In the past, many of those who moved to cities in their 20s moved to the suburbs in their 30s, where schools were good, crime was low and family-oriented amenities were plentiful. But those factors are changing in cities, too. Crime has remained low, while public schools and parks have been getting better in many places."But that's not all city living has to offer. Here are six more reasons people are choosing to nest in an urban area:1. Culture at your fingertipsIf you live in a big urban center, you are much more likely to have easy access to cultural amenities, such as the symphony, opera and ballet, as well as museums, rep movie houses, and historical landmarks. Amy Graff, a San Francisco mom of three children, ages 11, 9 and 1, says she used to regret not having a backyard when the kids were young, but as they’ve gotten older, she appreciates having the whole city, including its museums and parks, as her “backyard.” Says Graff, “It’s all available to us, just a bus ride away.”2. Cutting down on carpool timeEven the happiest suburban parent generally doesn’t enjoy the hours spent behind the wheel ferrying the kids to school, camp or classes. In cities, parents begin to let their children use public transportation around the age of 11 or 12, especially if they are with friends. Not only do parents get a break, the kids gain a sense of independence and self-reliance.3. Being a citizen of the worldPeople from all over the world live and work in cities. Children get to meet people with a variety of life experiences and backgrounds, which increases compassion and tolerance. “Kids in the city are exposed to so many different kinds of people,” says Graff, the mom from San Francisco. One day her daughter came home and asked for dried seaweed in her lunch after tasting it in a school friend’s lunch.4. Absorbing importantlessonsIt's terrible having to explain to a child why that homeless man is sleeping on the sidewalk. But there are opportunities for learning and growth, as well as opportunities to volunteer and offer real help, such as volunteer shifts at food banks or homeless shelters. “I have a friend who grew up in an upscale suburb,” says Houston attorney KatieSunstrom, who has 4- and 8-year-old boys. “She says she never knew there were poor people until she went into the Peace Corps! Seeing different kinds of people deepens children’s understanding of the world and their place in it. Our job is to teach them to give as well as to take.”5. Little or no commuteFamilies who both live and work in one city spend less time getting to and from work. This means more time to play, do homework or otherwise be with the kids. Sabrina Garibian, who has a 2-year-old and a 16-month-old she’s raising in downtown Philadelphia, says her husband’s commute is one walkable mile. “I only use my car once during the week to go to the market,” says Garibian. “Our vet is in walking distance, our pediatrician is within walking distance.”6. Amazing food and other amenitiesCan you find artisanal single-source coffee or ice cream made with liquid nitrogen at your local strip mall? Okay, not every city center has the mind-boggling smorgasbord of eating and drinking that you find in San Francisco, Chicago or Brooklyn, but the options in any city are usually better and more diverse than what you find in the burbs. Easy access to these delicacies and to interesting boutiques and stores is another reason to go urban.Are you raising children in the city? Tell us about your experiences and what makes you happy about where you live.Joyce Slaton writes, sews, cooks and lives in San Francisco with a husband, an enormous orange cat and one fiery grade-school daughter, Violet. Her work has appeared in Self, Ms., Wired, and Babycenter.com, where she has been blogging for almost a decade.

Self-Care

7 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

It’s not breaking news that eating healthier can contribute to our happiness, but when you're working with limited funds, it’s easy to get sticker shock in the organic section. If you’re on a tight budget, it can seem impossible to afford the good stuff. Here are seven ideas that will help you shop, cook and eat healthy without breaking the bank. 1.Get with the (meal) plan Having a meal plan ensures that there are tasty and healthy options readily available. Although the long-term financial benefits of a healthy diet are huge, there are immediate monetary payoffs to meal planning as well. First, “cheap” fast food meals aren’t all that cheap when compared to a far more nutritious home-cooked dinner. Also, planning meals ahead also saves on the cost of waste. (We’ve all seen produce meet an untimely death in the back of the crisper.) Thinking ahead—and cooking ahead, such as making a large pot of stew or soup on the weekend that you can eat all week—is well worth it when it comes to healthy eating. 2. Let an app do it for you Meal planning can be tedious: finding recipes, making shopping lists....Today, a number of apps will do the work for you; many are inexpensive and some are free: Plan to Eat is under $5 per month and Pepperplate is free. Cook Smarts ($6-8/month) even provides a meal plan for you each week that can be modified based on your dietary preferences, including gluten-free, vegetarian and paleo. 3. Go fresh, go local Buying fresh, organic produce in the supermarket can add up quickly, but sticking mainly with what’s in season will save you money. When you buy apples in summer, they are shipped in from New Zealand or Chile and may cost more (not to mention the effect on the environment). Likewise, eggplants in winter are shipped in and will be less fresh and tasty, as well as more expensive. It’s definitely better to buy organic when possible, but if the cost is prohibitive, it’s better to buy non-organic fruits and vegetables than to forgo them altogether. If you can, purchase your in-season produce at a farmers market near you. One study done in Vermont showed an average of almost 40 percent savings on organic produce at farmers markets versus grocery stores. Another option to make saving even easier is joining a co-op or CSA Farm Community-Supported Agriculture), many of which will deliver locally grown, organic produce right to your doorstep, saving not only money, but time, too. If you are an omnivore, many farmers markets, CSAs and local farms are great resources for saving big on eggs and hormone-free, antibiotic-free meats. 4. The big chill Frozen vegetables will save you cold, hard cash and also taste a lot better than the canned variety. They are fantastic when you are in a pinch and need a quick, healthy side dish. Heat them up and add some olive oil and salt and pepper, if you like. Buying good quality, minimally processed frozen fish and chicken breasts can also save money and time; if you have these healthy proteins on hand, you are less likely to resort to fast food. And because frozen items last longer, there is much less risk of waste. 5. Rice and beans, a magical combination Brown rice is a powerhouse of nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, protein and fiber, to name a few. And at less than 15 cents for one half-cup serving of organic brown rice, it’s also a boon for those seeking a bargain. Make a large batch and store leftovers in the fridge for use during the week in a quick stir-fry, side dish, or even rice pudding for breakfast. (For those who know of brown rice’s benefits but still prefer the taste of white, no need to worry—white rice is still nutritious as well as inexpensive.) Beans and rice taste great together, but more important, they make a complete protein. Beans are chock-full of fiber, B vitamins and minerals. A one-pound bag of dried beans will only set you back about $1 and makes 10-12 servings! Whipping up some red beans and rice, or sautéing cooked lentils with seasoned spinach or kale are a couple of great ways to make a budget-friendly meal that is both tasty and healthy. 6. Meatless Mondays Most omnivores find they can sink their teeth into a hearty veggie- and grain-based meal at least once per week. Because meat is often the priciest ingredient in recipes, by going meatless on Monday (or any other day), you are not only improving your health, but your balance sheet, too. Black bean burgers and lentil tacos are delicious and filling, and mushrooms have a meaty texture that is sure to satisfy cravings. 7. Pack it in With Americans spending an average of close to $1,000 yearly on lunch (and some spending up to $5,000), brown-bagging it more often is a great way to save money and gain nutrition. Without much extra effort, packing up your healthy leftovers into individual portions makes it easy to throw together a midday meal to take to the office or heat up at home. Your co-workers will be green with envy.

Students at Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas put everything into their art.

Self-Care

A Passion to Create

Step after step, note after note, scene afterscene, the students at Dallas’ Booker T.Washington High School for the Performingand Visual Artsare working,practicing and playing. Why? To make it into a famed performing arts conservatory?To win a Grammy? To dance on the biggeststage or play in the grandest hall? Yes. Following their passions These students are driven, focused andfollowing their passions. With alumni whoinclude Grammy winners Norah Jones andErykah Badu, achieving lofty goals is thenorm at the arts magnet school. And the 2013–2014 school year was noexception, with an unprecedented fivestudents accepted into the prestigiousJuilliard School. Boasting a 100 percentgraduation rate and roughly a quarter of allthe scholarship money in the DallasIndependent School District going to theschool’s students, the curriculum,integrating art and academics, is working. Prepared to create “We are not just preparing students forcareers in the arts—although many of ourstudents do go down that path—we arepreparing them to be 21st-century learnersand contributors to society,” says PrincipalScott Rudes, Ph.D. “They have theopportunity to think creatively, think ingroups and project themselves to be articulateabout what they are passionate about. Theyare not only what colleges are looking for, butwhat employers are looking for, too.” A different kind of school environment Scott says you can feel the electricitywhen you walk through the front doors;students are singing, playing instrumentsand rehearsing scenes. It’s an environmentfostering creativity, freedom, passionand engagement. “For us as educators to see thesestudents propelled into the spotlight ina variety of ways,” he says, “it reallyreaffirms the fact that schools like Booker T.Washington need to exist.”

People

Miranda Lambert is Absolutely Loving Life

Inspired by role models Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Beyoncé (“I’ve seenher five times; I’m a little bit of a stalker”), Miranda Lambert is making aname for herself as more than a pretty face.The making of a country starAfter proving she has the chops to make it on Nashville Star, Miranda hasgone on to release five solo albums, including her latest,Platinum, in June. She has racked updozens of awards, including a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance,Female, for her heart-tugging hit “The House That Built Me”; a record fivestraight wins as Female Vocalist of the Year from the Academy of CountryMusic; and four consecutive wins in the same category from the CountryMusic Association.Busy, but happyShe shares that shelf with her husband of three years, Blake Shelton,who has accumulated a blacksmith’s trove of statuettes and a legionof fans himself.In addition to opening up Pink Pistol boutiques, Miranda has also launchedher own shoe line, Miranda by Miranda Lambert. “I’m really hard on bootsonstage,” she says. “I stomp around and they have to be comfortable andthe heel can’t be too high. I thought if I could just have my own boot line, I could make exactly what I want.” And her MuttNation Foundation, createdin 2009, has raised nearly a million dollars and supports no-kill rescueshelters in every state.Small-town successNot even Blake shares his wife’s industriousness. “The other day I told himhe should open a bait shop because we have a lot of fishing around butthere’s nowhere to buy bait,” Miranda says. “And he was like, ‘I don’t wantto be as tired and stressed-out as you.’ ”She laughs, and then concedes,“Yes, sometimes it is stressful because I have a lot going on, but it’s also sosatisfying when these things are successful, and I see people get a job in our tiny town or see the dogs have a happy place to live.“There’s always a reward that comes with hard work that keeps youdriving to the next level.”

Positive Psychology

4 Ways to Spark and Spread a Positive Mood

No one can be in a good mood all the time, but since our emotions effect not just ourselves but also those around us (friends, coworkers, family), it's important to know how to make yourself feel better when you're in a funk. Here are some techniques to try out when you need an emotional boost. 1. Label your emotion Thismay sound counterintuitive, but justnaming your emotion out loud can startto change it. When you’reauthentic, people can tell.Researchershave found that just saying “I’manxious” or “I’m worried” allows thenegative emotion to dissipate muchmore quickly. So when you’re upset withyour spouse, friend or colleague, don’thesitate to say, “I feel upset about…” 2. Take deep breaths Try it now. While you’rereading this. Take a breath. Andanother. How do you feel? A little morerelaxed in the chest and shoulder area?Try this when your spouse or child sayssomething upsetting. Step aside—go to the kitchen or the bathroom or onto thefront porch and take a few deep breaths.No one will miss you, and you will comeback refreshed. This is one of thesimplest things to do, but it’s one of thehardest to remember! 3. Go for a walk We can’t emphasize how many studies stress thebenefits of being outdoors and theeffects it can have on your mood andstress level. So, if you feel that you’reabout to crash into a negative mood,take a few minutes and go for a walkoutside. The worst thing you can dois sit at your desk and continue todwell on it. 4. Move it! Surprisingly, doing a stretch, standingwith good posture and smiling allcontribute to a good mood. Performing aphysical activity—like doing fivejumping-jacks or being silly withanother physical movement, can changeyour attitude.Keep in mind that one of thesetechniques may work better than theothers for you, so experiment and seewhich works best and when. Margaret H. Greenberg and Senia Maymin, are organizational consultants and executive coaches, and authors ofProfit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business. For more information about Senia and Margaret, go toProfitFromThePositive.com.

Reading

Library—10% Happier

Ten years ago, Dan Harris was filling in as an anchor on Good Morning Americawhen he had a panic attack in front ofmillions. In his new book, he details hisjourney from his most embarrassingmoment to finding a remedy to quiethis mind.The result? Dan became areluctant convert to meditation.While not a miracle cure, meditationcan help wrestle your mind to the groundand quiet your inner voice that has youruminating on the past or projecting into the future, he writes. The practice hascountless benefits, from better healthto increased focus and a deeper senseof calm.Try meditation for five minutes a day as a start,Dan suggests. Sit comfortably. Focus onyour breath. Every time your mind gets lost in thought (and it will), gently returnto your breathing. “Everyone has five minutes, no matter how busy you are.It won’t be easy, but neither is going tothe gym.”10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story

Well-Being

4 Tips That Could Prolong Your Life

Researchis showing us that if you live apositive, happy lifestyle right now, nottomorrow or 10 years from now, barringhealth issues, you could live a longerlife than someone who approacheseach day with a negative outlook.Among the most notable researchwe’ve found on this topic comes fromEd Diener, a Gallup senior scientist andformer University of Illinois psychologyprofessor. He took an in-depthlook at more than 150 studies looking atthe connections between aging andhappiness. From one that tracked thelife spans of almost 200 baseball playerswho were smiling in photos versus thosewho weren’t, to one that studiedScandinavian twins and yet another thatanalyzed how positive 180 nuns’autobiographies were when entering theconvent, what he found was one cleartheme: Happy people tend to havelonger, healthier lives.Who lives the longest?And in an interview with theUniversity of Illinois News Bureau, hewent so far as to say that, in his opinion,the data linking positive feelings andenjoying life to longevity is strongerthan the claims that obesity reduces aperson’s life span. That’s a pretty strongbelief, but it’s one we should thinkabout. Do you have the happiness andthe positive attitude it will take to carryyou to the century mark?First, let’s define what happiness is and what it’s not: Happiness is not aboutbeing blind to the negatives in ourenvironment. Happiness is believingyou have the power to do somethingabout those negatives. If you want tocreate positive change in your life, if youwant to live a positive life, you have to first change your reality.1. Keep a journalIn just two minutes,you can actually rewire your brain,allowing it to work more optimistically and more successfully. Write downthree new things that you’re grateful foreach day for 21 days in a row. At the endof that, your brain will start scanningthe world, not for the negative, but forthe positive. Then begin journalingabout one positive experience you’vehad over the past 24 hours and allowyour brain to relive it. These kinds ofexercises teach your brain that yourbehavior matters.2. Sleep mattersOne of our favorite studiesis from a 2008 issue of the Asia PacificManagement Review, which foundthat if you memorize sets of positive,neutral and negative words and thensleep for seven to eight hours, you willremember about 80 percent of all threelists a day later. If you miss a night ofsleep and stay up, say 36 hours, youstill remember most of the neutral andnegative words, but 59 percent fewerof the positive words! This is becauseyour brain interprets a lack of sleep asa threat to the central nervous system,then goes on high alert, scanning theworld for additional threats—that is,negatives.Get seven–eight hours of sleep per night."Fatigue severely impairs ourability to see the positives in life, makingsleep not just good for your health, butalso your wellbeing. So, turn off the TV,put away the book and get seven to eighthours of shut-eye.praise and gratitude, you are doomed to a reality devoid of those things.3. Stop fighting stressNo question, stress can be detrimentalto our health. Countless books andentire research journals are dedicated tothis topic. But that’s not the entire story:In fact, there is a huge body of researchshowing that stress can enhance ourwellbeing. There exists an alternatebut equally true reality in which stressis actually good for us.Make stress work for you, not against you"First, becomeaware of the stress. Second, look for themeaning behind it. (“I’m stressed aboutthis project because I know I’ll get apromotion if I succeed.”) And third,channel your stress response to improveyour motivation. Stress is a fight-or-flight response, and when you fight orflee from it, you only make it worse.Recognize it and then channel it inpositive ways, improving both your lifeand happiness.4. Expect the best outcomeDefensive pessimism,or assuming the worst until you areproved wrong, seems like a very safeposition—that way you are neversurprised and even have a plan in place.Sounds safe, right? The problem is,your brain constructs a world based onhow you expect it to look. So if you can’tanticipate accomplishment, meaning,praise and gratitude, you are doomedto a reality devoid of those things.Say, for example, you’re running amarathon. Don’t start out by thinking about the injuries you could sustain orabout how embarrassing it would beif you didn’t finish. Instead, start by planning a training schedule, thinkingabout how good you’ll feel as yourmiles start increasing, and anticipatingthat nice dinner you and your familywill eat after the race to celebrate youraccomplishment. Expect success, andyou’ll be more likely to find it.And this is just the beginning.There are a number of ways you, too,can be happier and live a more positivelifestyle. So, put on a smile and relishevery moment.ShawnAchoris theNew York Timesbest-selling author ofThe Happiness AdvantageandBefore Happiness.Shawn recently sat down with Oprah Winfrey to discuss his steps for achieving happiness on OWN’sSuper Soul Sunday.MichelleGielanis an expert on the science of positive communication and how to use it to fuel success.She formerly served as a national news anchor for CBS News, and is the founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, which works with companies and schools toraise employee engagement, productivity and happiness at work.

Well-Being

Word Power

Words matter, and as we take steps to boostour happiness, the very words we choose are surprisinglyimportant. That’s because differentwords appeal to different people.For instance, when I decided to takeactions to make myself happier, I starteda “happiness project.” I love a “project”;I want to roll up my sleeves and begin.There's no "right" wordSome people, however, disagree. “Itsounds like homework,” a friendobjected. “It reminds me of the science project I hated in sixth grade.” Myfriend loves art and design, so perhaps she might frame the same process as“design my life.” Or someone who lovestravel and exploration might“start my journey.”In fact, some people bristle atthe word “happiness” itself.They prefer to talk about peace, serenity,satisfaction, fulfilment or contentment.Happy happy, joy joyAs for me, I have an issue with the word“joy.” “So, Gretchen, tell us about howyou try to live a more joyful life.” For me,the word “joy” evokes a rare, intenseemotion; I don’t feel joyous very often,and I don’t expect to feel joyful in myordinary day. But for someone else, “joy”might be the right word.Also, by emphasizing different values,the words we choose can make a habitmore or less appealing. “Playing thepiano” sounds like more fun than“practicing the piano”; “engagement time” sounds more interesting than “email time.” And what sounds moreattractive, a “personal retreat day,”“catch-up day,” “ditch day” or“mandatory vacation day”? Would yourather “take a dance class” or “exercise”? Some people embrace the word “quit,” asin “I’ve quit sugar.” Some are put off byits overtones of addiction.Setting the right toneThe differences in word choice mayseem subtle, but they’re significant. I hada note posted in my office that read,“Creative and confident,” but I changedit to “Creative and enthusiastic.”“Confidence” has an overtone of posture and self-consciousness; it relatesto the way I’m seen by others or the wayI view myself. “Enthusiasm,” on theother hand, expresses the way I feelabout something or someone else—it’senergetic, positive, generous andoutward-turning.Raising the bar by lowering the barAlong the same lines, I once madethe resolution to “lower my standards,”but before long, I changed it to “lowerthe bar.” “Lower my standards”suggests settling for mediocrity, while“lower the bar” suggests the removal ofobstacles, which is what I aim to do.I’m fairly argumentative, and I would argue with people about why myvocabulary is the most helpful. But I’vecome to understand that just aseveryone is different because we each have our own mix of temperament,interests and values, differentvocabularies are appropriate as well.Figure out what works for youSo if you’re trying to make a changein your life, think about the words youchoose. Pursue your dream, sprinttoward a finish line or cross an item offyour to-do list—whatever strikes achord with you.GRETCHEN RUBIN is the best-selling author ofThe Happiness ProjectandHappier at Home,and is currently working on her latest book,Before and After, scheduled for release in 2015. She is considered one of the most influential writers on happiness today, and has become an in-demand speaker and keynoter.Gretchen has also made appearances on theTodayshow,CBS Sunday MorningandBooknotes. You can readabout Gretchen’s adventures in the pursuit of happiness and habits on her blog atGretchenRubin.com.

Well-Being

Naturally Happy

It’s what makes us exhale with delight while driving a scenicroute. It’s why we find peace as we walk a mountain trail, relax as we sit in the sun on the beach. It’s biophilia, and it’s the emotional connection thatwe, as humans, have with nature.“Being outside makes you moremindful,” says Dr. John Ratey, associateprofessor of clinical psychiatry atHarvard Medical School and co-authorof the new book, Go Wild: Free Your Body and Mind from the Afflictions of Civilization. “If you take a walk on atreadmill, you’re going to read a magazine or watch TV or listen to music, and it takes you away from thatexperience of walking. But if you take awalk on a trail, you immediately have tobe in the moment. You have to payattention to the changes of the ground,watch what is going on around you.”Happy trailsEven if you’ve walked that same traildozens—or hundreds—of times, it isdifferent every time and requires attention and awareness.John teamed up with journalistRichard Manning for his ninth book onbrain function, this time taking ascience-based look at how moderncivilization is doing serious damage to both our minds and bodies. Whatemerges is a clear argument for shakingloose from modern life to restore ourhealth and happiness.Ranking high on that list is the need for us to get back intouch with nature. “We have to get back to our evolutionary roots,” John says. “Because of our digital connections, we are losing our people connections. We wrapourselves in all the tremendous stimuliwe can connect to—Facebook, Twitter,the latest Kardashian story—but wedon’t even see what’s happening in theworld around us….[Being in nature]improves our mood, lessens ouranxiety and enhances our cognitiveability.Down to earthGetting back in touch with nature provides more than just an emotional lift, experts say. Studies tracking alphawave activity show that simply looking at nature scenes reduces anxiety, depression, anger and aggression.In one, residents of an adult care center in Texas showed reduced levelsof cortisol, the “stress hormone,” simplyby moving to a garden environment.And in another, subjects showed lessstress when plants were placed inthe room.In Japan, the belief in the benefits of connecting with the earth is so strong that a national movement was launched,“shinrin-yoku,” supporting the use of nature to improve health and wellbeing. The Japanese Society of Forest Medicine has conducted numerous studiesshowing measurable medical and mentalhealth benefits to connecting with nature.Not only has the Japanese governmentinvested more than $4 million inresearch to prove the tangible benefits ofnature, but it has also built 100 “foresttherapy bases” and has inspired the restof Asia to follow suit.In fact, South Korea’s forest serviceis working with a German medicalresort company to build the NationalBaekdu-daegan Forest HealingComplex. The $140 million foresttherapy center will include therapeuticprograms and forest education as well ascontinue research on the benefits of aforest environment on happiness andbetter health.Try this at homeFortunately, we don’t need amultimillion-dollar forest center or even a national park to reconnect withnature. Many experts tout the benefitsof reconnecting with Mother Earthsimply by walking into our ownbackyards barefoot, also called“earthing” or “grounding.” Researchhas shown that this simple action helpsoffset some of the harmful effects of theelectromagnetic fields surrounding us inthis world of digital devices and that ittransfers the negatively charged freeelectrons in our bodies into the earth.In a study published in EuropeanBiology and Bioelectromagnetics, researchers found that connecting thehuman body to the earth during sleephelps alleviate sleep dysfunction, pain and stress and lower cortisol levels.Researchers concluded that earthing provides “reductions in overall stresslevels and tensions.”“Getting quiet in nature awakens usto the most serene place in our hearts, aplace of deep stillness,” says Eoin Finn, Blissology.com founder and creator ofthe Earth.Body.Yoga. series.“There is avibration to nature that is slow and peaceful, and similar to two guitarstrings getting in tune, we harmonizewith this vibration.”That gives us a feeling of awe,gratitude and a sense of belonging tosomething greater than ourselves.“Everything out there isinterconnected, and that is miraculous,”he says. “I want us to really blur the linewhere we begin and nature ends. Weshould never lose sight of thisinterdependent relationship.”Regardless of what it’s called—“earthing,” “grounding” or “connectingwith nature”—the effects are noticeableand well-documented, John says. Gettingback in touch with the earth affects notonly our mental wellbeing, but can havemeasurable effects on our physical healthas well. From the sun nourishing us withvitamin D to building stronger, healthierbodies as we move around, John saysthere is no downside to returning to amore nature-centric lifestyle:“That connection is so, so importantfor us. It leads to so many good things,changes our brains, changes ouremotions. You’ll be happier, you’ll wantto live longer so you can enjoy this life.And when you want to live, you takebetter care of yourself.”

Well-Being

America’s Most Satisfied Cities

Gallup and Healthways asked 300 American adults a simple question: How satisfied are you with the city or area in which you live? (The poll makes up one part of the large-scaleGallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.)According to the results, residentsof the Fort Collins-Loveland area of Colorado ranked the highest incity satisfaction. Not too far behind them are folks living in San LuisObispo-Paso Robles, Calif., and Holland-Grand Haven, Mich. Infact, of the cities making the top 10 list, none is considered a majormetropolitan area. Surprisingly, climate does not appearto a affect wellbeing, since Des Moines, Iowa ranks slightly higher than Honolulu.Related polls also show that in cities with highsatisfaction rates, residents tend to be more optimistic, generally feelthat things are getting better within their communities and usuallyscore high in wellbeing, as well. Residents in these areas also have easieraccess to basic necessities such as fresh produce; engage inhealthier behaviors, including plenty of exercise; and enjoy better working environments.On a national scale, most Americans report that they aresatisfied with where they live. Even cities with the lowestsatisfaction levels have shown improvements since 2008, whenGallup andHealthways began tracking satisfaction rates.How does your community rate?1. Fort Collins-Loveland, Colorado (94.9%)2. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, California (94.1%)3. Holland-Grand Haven, Michigan (93.4%)4. Billings, Montana (93.1%)5. Boulder, Colorado (92.8%)6. Provo-Orem, Utah (92.3%) tied with ...7. Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts8. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa (92.2%)9. Madison, Wisconsin (91.9%)10. Honolulu, Hawaii (91.7%)

6 Reasons to Raise Your Family in the City

7 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

A Passion to Create

Miranda Lambert is Absolutely Loving Life

4 Ways to Spark and Spread a Positive Mood

Library—10% Happier

4 Tips That Could Prolong Your Life

Word Power

Naturally Happy

America’s Most Satisfied Cities

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