The Empire State
New York City is known for being the melting pot of the United States, the home of infinite opportunities, the city that never sleeps. People move to New York City so that they may start a new life. A life filled with happiness and success. In the article Unhappiest City Says ‘Happiness Schmappiness’ by Nazish Dholakia, it is found that those who move to New York City with the goal of finding happiness are unable to create their own happiness. Their inability to create their own happiness causes them to travel all the way to New York City with the hopes that they will have the ability to pursue happiness the Big Apple. In reality, the National Bureau of Economic Research has completed their research on how happy residents of New York City really are, and the data has concluded that New York City is the unhappiest city in America. The research team discovered that most of those who move to New York City solely thought about the opportunities that are available for them, and very few of them contemplated how happy they would actually be living in New York City. Happiness is not necessarily the first thing people consider when deciding where to live and The National Bureau of Economic Research determined that most people are willing to trade happiness for higher wages or lower housing costs, "presumably as compensation for their misery."
In Dholakia’s article, there was an interview with a woman named Tania Montano, who moved to the city from Mexico a year and a half ago. When Montano was asked what she thought of New York City being ranked the least happiest city in the nation she said, “‘I think it's funny that New York is ranked the unhappiest, people come here thinking that they'll find something they won't’” (Dholakia, 2014). The promise of happiness is what draws people to the most populated city in North America. The dashed dreams, high rents, and loud neighbors. New York has it all and then some.
Happiness may also be harder to identify than unhappiness, and New York has plenty of dysfunction to get a person grumpy. From the squeaky subways to the long brunch lines, it takes the patience of a saint to live happily in New York City. In another interview, Nazish Dholakia was searching for a response from a born and raised New Yorker. Ray Cohen from Manhattan responded to the new knowledge by saying, "I'm not unhappy, but I can see how other people could be, there are a lot of people who come here to live the dream. But that's an illusion, and it doesn't work out” (Dholakia, 2014).
Whether people believe it or not, New York City is the unhappiest city in America and it takes the right kind of person to be able to live happily in the Big Apple. The kind of person who is able to create their own happiness despite what may occur. This means that those who move to New York City with the intention of finding happiness are just merely chasing happiness because they are do not have the ability to create their own happiness. These kinds of people will find themselves among the millions of unhappy New Yorkers. On the other hand, those who move to New York City with the intention of creating happiness will truly be happy with their lives despite any disappointments they may encounter. These kinds of people will live overall happier lives and if more people adopt the mentality of creating happiness rather than pursuing happiness, then maybe New York City will become a city filled with happy citizens.
In Dholakia’s article, there was an interview with a woman named Tania Montano, who moved to the city from Mexico a year and a half ago. When Montano was asked what she thought of New York City being ranked the least happiest city in the nation she said, “‘I think it's funny that New York is ranked the unhappiest, people come here thinking that they'll find something they won't’” (Dholakia, 2014). The promise of happiness is what draws people to the most populated city in North America. The dashed dreams, high rents, and loud neighbors. New York has it all and then some.
Happiness may also be harder to identify than unhappiness, and New York has plenty of dysfunction to get a person grumpy. From the squeaky subways to the long brunch lines, it takes the patience of a saint to live happily in New York City. In another interview, Nazish Dholakia was searching for a response from a born and raised New Yorker. Ray Cohen from Manhattan responded to the new knowledge by saying, "I'm not unhappy, but I can see how other people could be, there are a lot of people who come here to live the dream. But that's an illusion, and it doesn't work out” (Dholakia, 2014).
Whether people believe it or not, New York City is the unhappiest city in America and it takes the right kind of person to be able to live happily in the Big Apple. The kind of person who is able to create their own happiness despite what may occur. This means that those who move to New York City with the intention of finding happiness are just merely chasing happiness because they are do not have the ability to create their own happiness. These kinds of people will find themselves among the millions of unhappy New Yorkers. On the other hand, those who move to New York City with the intention of creating happiness will truly be happy with their lives despite any disappointments they may encounter. These kinds of people will live overall happier lives and if more people adopt the mentality of creating happiness rather than pursuing happiness, then maybe New York City will become a city filled with happy citizens.