The Happiest Place on Earth

Copenhagen
Originally uploaded by Daniel Niño

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Maybe instead of running up credit card debt, emptying the savings account or "borrowing" from the college fund to pay for a superficial holiday at Disney World, the American family should fix its focus on visiting the true happiest place on Earth.

But where is that?

A recent survey awarded Denmark this honor, prompting Oprah to visit Copenhagen in an effort to figure out why this country is happier than others. Its citizens cited reasons such as universal health care, free post secondary education, and low to no crime as a few of the reasons they don't mind paying up to 60% of their salaries in income tax (the higher the salary, the higher the tax).

In Denmark, the slogan "less things, more life" pretty much sums up the value placed on happiness over wealth. Education is seen as a way to ensure health and happiness and people choose their line of work based solely on interest and not earning potential.

The work day in Denmark ends promptly at 4 pm - that's when people head to the market and then home to spend quality time with their families. Family, is after all, paramount in Denmark.

Which is why it might confuse people to learn that Danish parents leave their strollered babes unattended in public outside of cafes and shops while they run errands and socialize. Seriously, they do! And guess what? They do this with complete confidence and no one judges them!

(Remember when that British couple left their daughter asleep in their Spanish hotel room while they dined with friends below? And she was kidnapped? And the world turned a critical eye toward her parents, accusing them of everything from bad parenting to murder? Hmm, I wonder how the Danes reacted to that case. With compassion, perhaps? I know I did - it sounds perfectly reasonable to me)

So, What's La Pointe of It All? Is it true? Are Danes happier than Americans (seriously, need I ask?) or are they just more narcissistic?