Jennie M. Xue

The truth about happiness

by Jennie S. Bev

An old adage goes, “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” Well, this has proven to be a fallacy. Economists Angus Deaton and Daniel Kahneman found in a survey of 450,000 Americans in 2008 and 2009 for the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index that those who earned at least US$75,000 annually had a better sense of well-being than those who earned less.

The figure proved to be a threshold, over which unhappiness stemming from a lack of money started to diminish.

However, the relationship between money and happiness was not linear, according to the survey. Those who earned $150,000 annually were not twice as happy as those who earned $75,000.

Developed Indonesia and third world American

by Jennie S. Bev

Indonesia is enjoying a rosy economy with a 6.3 percent GDP growth predicted in 2011. The United States’ economy, however, is slowing down rapidly with a predicted 2011 GDP growth of 2.5 percent.

Assuming optimized economic, political, and legislative environments at home and in Mexico, Australia, Vietnam, Nigeria and South Africa (MAVINS), Indonesia shall become a developed country by 2032.

On the contrary, assuming problems aren’t fixed properly, the United States may have become a third world country by that time.

Tipping point, terrorism, and crimes against humanity

by Jennie S. Bev

It’s mind-boggling that the National Police have claimed they are one of the best police forces in the world in tackling terrorism and that the government has claimed it is an administration that governs a pluralistic country. Their claims are far from factual conditions. Otherwise many people wouldn’t be puzzled.

The Islam Defenders Front’s (FPI) acts of terror are rampant and have reached a point where religious minorities, including both non-Muslims and Muslims, have no place to stand and breathe. Recently, the places of worship and private residences of the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect have been ransacked, destroyed and burned. People have been abused physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Death, midlife crisis, and family life

by Jennie S. Bev

We grow into multiple directions externally and internally, which we have been enduring and will continue to endure through the changes of inner weather and turmoil. As we age and grow a wee bit older every day, we take steps toward our final destination: death.

David Shields said it well, “The thing about life is that one day you’ll be dead.” Point taken and it is a point of no return.

Biologically speaking, we are decaying from the day of conception. Every nanosecond brings death closer. In between, we will find puberty, adulthood, gray hair and wrinkles, menopause, midlife crisis, illness after illness, terminal illness and, eventually, the final blow that strikes right into our essence causing the final departure.

Some people think life is about chemistry and chemical reactions. Many believe it’s a spiritual matter. Life is a gift, nonetheless.