Turnbridge Properties, Inc.

Today's Tropic Topic:
IT'S A NEW YEAR BABY!
Tropic Topic Author of the Day:Leigh Ann Quinlan
Realtor-Associat
Turnbridge properties, Inc.

On a happier note, you can find good news in the year past - it just takes an optimistic eye.
If you look solely at real estate, paychecks and pocketbook issues, 2008 was a horrible year. So to start the year on a happier note, take a look at some trends and numbers from the year just ended. Let's hope to see more in the year ahead.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. The 2008 World Value Survey found that freedom of choice and tolerance - and not simply wealth- have lots to do with a rise in happiness. The world's most contented people - not the richest- are the Danes. But the Americans are in the top 20.
HAPPINESS IS CONTAGIOUS. Happiness spreads easily through family, friends and neighbors. Knowing someone who is happy makes you 15.3 percent more likely to be happy yourself.
ALMOST TWO-THIRDS of Americans meet exercise guidelines (150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week).
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION rates rose in America.
DEATH RATES FROM cardiovascular disease dropped.
DEATH RATES FROM infectious disease dropped.
MORE THAN 2000 NEW medicines are being worked on for older Americans.
THE JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL Cancer Institute noted that, for the first time since its annual report in 1998, both incidence and death reates for all cancers combined are decreasing for both men and women.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY built its 300,000th house.
AMERICANS ADOPTED more than 17,000 children from abroad.
WHAT HAPPY PEOPLE DO. The happiest people were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read more newspapers.
DEATHS ON AMERICAN HIGHWAYS were way down, both because of safety advances and fewer miles driven. Final numbers are not in, but through the end of October put the year on track to have the lowest number in the 42 years that records have been kept. YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE depends not just on actions and choices that you make, but also on actions and choices of other people, many of which you don't even know.
AND FINALLY THIS: From 1980 until 2006(the last year measured), Americans actually became happier.
IT"S A NEW YEAR! HERE'S TO A BETTER 2009!

Sources: 2008 World Value Survey, America's health Rankings/United Health Foundation, Florida Department of Health, Habitat for Humanity, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, US State Department, Times researcher Shirl Kennedy, Times editor Jim Verhulst.