Happiness

Happiness is important.
Perhaps you think this is obvious. Happiness is a concept that's well established in America culture. It's enshrined in the American Constitution after all: 'Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness'.
Frankly, speaking as someone who grew up in the UK, I've always thought that this phrase was a bit strange. 'Life' and 'Liberty' I get. They're fundamental human rights. But why would the Founding Fathers give 'The pursuit of Happiness' equal status? Nice if you can get it, was my thinking. Not as important as Life and Liberty, but worth pursuing, sure.
Well it turns out that the Founding Fathers cleverly anticipated 21st Century science. And that I was wrong. This 'optional extra' is not so optional. It's been proven to be vital to longevity and better health:
"However we measure happiness, it seems to be conducive to better health. Happy people tend to have more robust immune systems and lower level of stress causing cortisol. If artificially exposed to the flu virus, they are much less likely to contract the disease. They are also more likely to recover from major surgery" (Richard Layard, a prominent UK economist writing in his excellent book 'Happiness, Lessons from a new Science'.
All of which begs the question "what makes people happy?"
Not money, as it turns out. Once people have achieved a certain basic standard (they can eat, have shelter etc) each successive increase in material wealth does not generate the equivalent increase in feelings of happiness. This has been documented in many studies, as as Layard reports:
"...all the evidence says that on average people are no happier today than people were fifty years ago. Yet at the same time average incomes have more than doubled. This paradox is equally true for the United States and Britain and Japan."
So what does make people happy? Groups. A social network and the relationships, sense of meaning and sense of achievement that they generate.
"Close relationships are the single most important factor in whether someone is happy." (Richard Layard again).
Recent studies have shown that there is a tight relationship between Belonging to Groups, Happiness, and increased health and longevity. Groups are a fundamental human need. They are equal in status to 'Life' and 'Liberty'.
If you're in any doubt, look at these quotes that I took at random from the survey that's asked of Meetup members after they've attended a Meetup. They show how important their Meetup Groups are in their lives:
"It was nice having another person with ADHD/ADD to validate me. It takes someone who knows what it's like to struggle each day. To make you feel like your not alone"
(Member of the Orlando Attention Deficit Disorder Meetup Group)
And this stay-at-home Moms group:
"About half of the moms in the group are military spouses and understand what I am going through. It's a great support group and whenever a group member has needed anything, I am proud to say, my members have come through." (Karissa - Oceanside Little Explorers)