The Meaning of Life: Is Happier Better Than Fitter?

Text by Joe Battle

Is it better to be plump and positive than thin and depressed? Roger Cohen from the New York Times wrote a piece, "The Meaning of Life," about a University of Wisconsin experiment involving two rhesus monkeys. The testing revolved around the effects of diet and aging. One monkey, 27-year-old Canto, is on a restricted diet, while Owen, 29, can eat anything he desires. Canto’s low calorie diet leaves him fit; yet his eyes seem vacant. There is a level of sadness and displeasure with his state. Flabby Owen, on the other hand, is relaxed and seemly pleasant.

Maybe these monkeys offer us an insight into a fragile, yet authoritative psyche, which can affect our health more than eating egg whites every morning. Cohen brings personal experience that jolts a thought process transcending science. Is happiness a more effective tool for a healthier existence? Maybe there is more to living longer than counting calories and controlling a diet. By the end, Cohen remarks that he believes Owen will be around longer than Canto.

For more ideas on how to live longer, better, read this interview with The Blue Zones author Dan Buetter here.

What do you think? Post a comment below.