In 1938 the Grant study, which followed 268 Harvard Sophmores, later combined with the Glueck study which followed 456 boys from Boston, followed these men and later their offspring. The goal? Watch ordinary people and learn what kept them healthy and how to predict which people would live to a good old age. The study continues.
In my opinion the findings are amazing and personally explain to me why someone who has been a drinker and weed smoker (I stopped fun drugs in 1996 which was the last time I tripped) just aced another physical.
It wasn't genetics. It wasn't eating right. It wasn't exercise. It was how happy you are in your relationships and life. By the time the core group had reached 50, it was obvious. Happy life and relationships are what make people live longer. Value the people in your life. Find a good woman and enjoy.
I’m not familiar with these studies but I will accept them to be true. Happiness is critical to health and longevity, but don’t discount genetics entirely.
Good genetics (being fortunate to be born into a reasonably wealthy family that provides educational and socioeconomic advantages and opportunities) provides a more direct path to happiness: wealth + opportunities + good education + good job = the ability to attract the type of female companionship that makes you happy. Call it my spin on Maslow’s hierarchy.
I know there’s a lot of exceptions to this - many people who have overcome adversity to find happiness, and just as many miserable souls who were born into advantage, but it’s a lot easier to be happy when you start out playing with house money.