People in the poorer countries are happy

you are right. these people are happy with simple things that we take for granted. people in rich countries see what is available in the stores and seem to always want more. the trick is to be content with the stuff you already have.

I think that the difference lies in the contentment area. I understand when you mentioned that many people in poor countries live a happier life than those in big cities and advanced countries. I have come from the poor town in our country and I am now living in the city. I experienced being happier in the mountain with folks who are happy than being in the city with a lot of misery. But I know that there are also a lot of people in the city who are happy because they know how to handle their life. Have a happy and wonderful day.

Maxi, it just goes to show that happiness is not always from material things or money. It is also possible for the poor and those having just enough, to be happy. Of course, money makes life comfortable but it can't buy happiness. People who are poor worry less and they are contented with what they have. Although they don't have many possessions in life, family and friends are more than wealth to them. Here, in the Philippines, we don't have to spend much to be able to enjoy things. It is enough that you sit with family and friends and just chat over a basket of peanuts or over nothing at all. People in richer countries worry a lot about earning more money leaving not enough or little time for themselves or their families. It is so easy to make a poor man happy because he is contented with any little thing that comes his way unlike the rich man who gets frustrated with something that comes below his expectation.

Hi friend,
In every country of the world (rich or poor) there are happy people and people who feel miserable. It doesn´t have to do with money. Happiness comes from within. And every person in unique.
Hug!

hello maximax,

I think you're missing the point in terms of the poor, but i agree that most people in the poor or third World countries are most likely happy with their lives. you know the main reason to that is "THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE" to WORRY about since all they can think of is food,shelter and family. whereas, in the Big City or in the rich areas in the countries you mentioned. most of them are always in a hurry and need to be in time for this and that. too many things to worry about makes people unhappy. like me, am worried about a lot of things too but if i ever had no connection with technology,work and prefer simpler life, i think i could find a bit of happiness, probably contentment.LIFE was a lot SIMPLER before technology became popular.

Try to consider coming here in the philippines and you will surely love the people. Im saying this coz im proud to be a filipino and we still keep our values to be hospitable at all times to visiting people..hehe. Yes we are poor but as long as we have hearts, it doesn't matter anymore coz we'll always be happy despite poverty.:)

I think that our rampant consumerism and the trying to "Keep up with the Jones'" lifestyle is overrated.Especially at the moment,when businesses are going under,jobs are being lost and people are learning to live within their means,rather than outside them..Family and friends are more important than how much stuff you have..

I think the people in the third world countries are happy despite the prevailing poverty because of simplicity. Simple life means simple needs. No materialism. They are contented with what they have.

They value family so much because this is their treasure, their priceless possession that cannot be compared with any material riches. They are happy as long as they have each other.

People in the rich countries despite the astounding riches are not happy at times because they couldn't appreciate what they have or uncontented with the comfort or enjoyment brought about by their money. It is true that they have the best homes, latest gadgets, expensive cars, abundant food. Yet they don't have a strong and intact family. Lots of marriages have failed because of the easy way out called divorce. This is one of the hazards of liberality. Get married today, divorce tomorrow and the cycle goes on. People tend to choose the easy way out instead of working on the marriage because of the fact that there is an easy way out. They are no longer inclined of working hard or exerting more effort on something because they are used to the comfort that they are experiencing. And they can no longer survive without that comfort.

Hi maximax, I come from India. Most Indians eat with their hands. They dont cost anything, forks, knives, and spoons do. Within that there are different kind of forks (Pretty Woman lol). So whe people are hosting a dinner, they have one more problem to consider, are there adequate forks for every guest? Similarly, there are many things - artificially manufactured - and therefore costly, which have become integral parts of our lives. Obviously, cost of each such thing weighs, even if adequate earnings are there. We've different types of dresses to be worn for different types of parties. The poor are in the least concerned. They manage with a couple of sets. Unwittingly, we make it tougher for ourselves.:)

I think that being richer gives you more luxurious options that would certainly make your day better, but everything has a bad side, doesn't it? Poorer people have an advantage in friends and sticking up for each other... they don't have technological advances like richer people do, but they have themselves, the art of literature and friendship. Some people in the richer countries have to suffer from things that may be economically impossible for poorer countries, such as debts, wars and all that stuff.