Brazilian carnival begins!
Today where I am, in Brazil, Carnival begins, and there is nothing that compares in the United States. Even New Orleans is more like a small-town street fair in comparison. In Brazil, the whole country stops most its business, and people turn to having a good time, trying to forget for five days all that’s bad. That seems especially true for the poorest people here, of which there are many.
So from today and for the next five days when Carnival ends, the banks will all close and even if you have a bill due during this period, you don’t have to pay until after Carnival. Brazilians really know how to enjoy themselves (and not only during these five days). My opinion is that U.S. Americans, generally, seem to spend much more time in a competitive pursuit of money, and…where has that gotten our country now?
The life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78 years and in the south of Brazil where I am now, it’s 75 years. My observation is that down here, their 75 years are much less stressful and happier due to the easier-going attitude. I think it’s something North Americans can learn somewhat. If you do, I think you’ll live longer and age better.
I’m interested to hear my readers’ reactions to my cross-cultural observations. Am I off-base? And what about this: despite being a more laid-back country, Brazilians seem much more appearance-conscious than North Americans. They spend a lot of time, and money, on making sure their skin and hair and bodies look good, and the cosmetic surgery rate is likely the highest in the world. What do you think about that? Is it “wrong”? More about cosmetic surgery here next week (in honor of Carnival, I’m combining the usual Monday and Wednesday posts into Tuesday).
Have a good weekend. And I hope you consider if—despite the tough economic times everywhere—you want to “loosen up” your life a bit, and if so, how you might do it.
Paulo Said,
February 20, 2009 @ 12:33 pm
I am with you Dr. Harsany!
There no shade of doubt that is much better to live a happy and good life than an unhappy and long life. If you are unhappy there is no point in living life anyway. I’m not saying that people should go and commit suicide, but just to pay attention in their lives and try to make the best out of that. Just enjoy and be happy!
Happy Carnaval to everybody!
Paulo
Tom Said,
February 20, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
I am in complete agreement with Dr Dave on this. I live in Silicon Valley in California, and the pace of life here is crazy. Everybody seems to be on a treadmill that is going too fast and none of us know how to get off. In my own life, I have switched to a less stressful job, and that has made more time for creative endeavors (like photography and painting). But somehow I find myself approaching my art in the same stressful, “Type-A” approach that I used for my job. Culturally I seem tuned to pushing too hard, and feeling guilty for slowing down. Maybe Dr Dave can make some suggestions on how to slow down in future columns. Perhaps we all need to move to Brazil!
Debra Said,
February 21, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
Yes, yes, it’s all too stressful here and the challenge is not to buy into the culture. So when people ask me, “Keeping busy?” I say, “Oh, my God, NO.” Of course then you have to put up with others thinking you are a slacker or whatever and that may be even more stressful.
About plastic surgery–it’s hard for me to justify when so many are starving. Seriously. And I’m worried about my sagging jaw line? Please.
Don Sloan Said,
February 21, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
David,
Love your blog and your comments about Carnival. I’m sure your basic argument has some validity; the high-stress life led by many Americans is unhealthy. I wonder, though, if the Brazilian statistics would look different if sorted out by class. Don’t poor Brazilians suffer from very high stress levels? Have you seen any statistics on Brazilian life expectancy that might lead to more nuanced interpretations?
The next question, of course, is how to get out of the rat race. Like you, I’ve done my individual part to reduce stress by getting out of a profession with notoriously short life spans, corporate litigation, for life as an academic (art historian). In academia we’re currently stressing over budget shortfalls and hiring freezes, but the pressures usually are pretty tolerable compared to what successful lawyers deal with every day. Artists and art students face economic pressures, but they’ve pretty much made their choice to ignore economics when they enter the art world. And my colleagues don’t even have to suffer the Brazilian obsession with appearance; it’s OK for artists to be a mess.
Don Sloan
Greg Said,
February 21, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
Thanks Dr Dave for your insightful and thought-provoking blog. Seems irrefutable to me that less stress leads to a more satisfying life but every ying needs a yang; A little rain helps us appreciate the sunshine.
RE: who spends more on looking good, read a report today that despite the economic crisis, Americans are still spending $ on beauty products and products/services related to health and exercise and these sectors, unlike most, grew in from 2007 to 2008.
I think striving for balance is ultimate goal. “Everything in moderation, ESPECIALLY moderation.”
Hope you and Paulo enjoy your Carnival celebration(s)!
- Greg
David Said,
February 21, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
Yes, it’s very important to seek calm in your life. It really doesn’t matter where you find it, in Brazil, the U.S. or on Mars! The idea is to live a life where you set aside time to let go of the daily grind and simply just “be”, take a few deep breaths, meditate, etc. We all should strive to live happy lives in complete balance!!!
Gis Said,
February 22, 2009 @ 8:57 am
I do not know exactly the statistics on the matter I will point but I have read many articles about people who had a very serious disease and how they have changed their lives on a better way. They have said that friends, family and living a calm life are the most important. We should learn from these people so we do not need to go through a serious crisis to learn how to enjoy life. It is important to balance things in life, it is not healthy to care too much about physical appearance, but it is unhealthy to care less though.
Peter Romero Said,
February 22, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
Dr Dave, most people would agree with your general statements about Brazilians knowing how to enjoy life better and Americans having a bigger emphasis on making money. But if you are insinuating that Brazilians have a better, happier, and healthier life because they have more fun and that Americans are more unhappy and unhealthy because they work too much, I urge you to continue to take a closer look at these two societies.
No matter what is going on right now with the economy in the United States, here we continue to enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. This is due to the hard work of many Americans – their drive to make money has driven them to create and develop many of the greatest inventions ever and we have profited from it.
In contrast the laidback and easy going lifestyle and attitude of the Brazilians have gotten them unacceptable levels of poverty for a country with so many resources. They have problems there that most Americans can’t begin to imagine. So, I question how much more happier and healthier Brazilians are than Americans.
As someone born and raised in a laidback, easy going culture – Venezuela (a close neighbor to Brazil) I grew up with values different to the values in the United States. But after having lived in the Unites States for 22 years, I have to say that Americans like to have as much fun as Venezuelans or Brazilians. But there is a big difference, Americans understand that big accomplishments don’t come easy, you have to work hard to make them happen. Somehow, Latin cultures think that things will just happen. And they don’t, so Latinos are frustrated and unhappy in many ways. And they also live stressful lives. But they find refuge in getting together with friends and family and having fun. As you stated in your article, they are just trying to forget all that is bad.
In my humble opinion, the biggest difference between the United States and Latin cultures that truly have an impact on happiness and health is not the laid back attitude versus the money driven attitude. What makes many Americans unhappy is the sense isolation and the lack of family ties and strong relationships.
As for how much more “appearance conscious” Brazilians are than Americans, you must be referring to the average, 45 year old, married, with children Joe and Betty living in the Midwest. But I don’t think that applies to other areas and populations of the country such as LA, Orange County, or Gay men in NYC. Also, if we all lived in a warmer climate by the beach, where we are inclined to take our clothes off more often, wouldn’t you want to look good? Perhaps Brazilians understand that visual pollution is not good for our health or happiness.
Phyllis L. Said,
February 24, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
I think it depends on the individual as much as the culture. When faced with a serious illness 9 years ago, it forced me to rethink my Type A behavior & lifestyle and learned how to stress less. It was my life changing “a-ha moment.”
Money is nice to do things we like, but its not everything. Being in bed for a year made me realize that. I try to balance my life and so far it has worked.
Having said that I bought a Harley last year and that is my therapy!
Happy Carnival Dr Dave & Paulo! Hope to see you soon!!!