The Spanish Path to Happiness

For most people, last Monday would have passed as any normal day. Well, that’s not entirely true. It was a Monday, so some of us no doubt endured the same kind of weekly dread that was evoked in the famous Boomtown Rats song of 1979. There was, however, something slightly different about last Monday – other than just not liking it because it was a Monday. January 18 was “Blue Monday”, said to be the most depressing day of the year. Not everyone agrees with the pseudo scientific reasoning behind the designation of this date, first coined in 2005 and variously claimed to have been calculated using an equation and/or analysing trends in social media posts.

Whatever its origins (and legitimacy), rather than dwelling on the negative aspects, numerous companies and organisations around the world put a positive spin on this year’s “Blue Monday”. Citroën, for example, took the opportunity of commissioning a national survey in the UK, coinciding with the car manufacturer’s “Perfect Day” campaign and aimed at finding out what makes the UK public happy. The overall top-six ingredients for the perfect day were, in order: receiving a hug; receiving a kiss from a loved one; having a lie-in (the favourite among respondents aged 25 to 44); enjoying good food; a sunny day; and being smiled at by a stranger (considered the most uplifting among those aged over 55). Citroën also toured the UK to find 12 of the country’s happiest people and determine what makes their own perfect day, one of whom was a double-amputee soldier who, at 21, suffered catastrophic injuries from an IRA bomb. After spending six years in hospital, he became one of the world’s best skydivers and now says he finds happiness in the freedom skydiving gives him to move in ways not possible on the ground.

Returning to the survey… it will not be lost on readers that all six ingredients – especially the last three – are regular staples of life in southern Spain. Just six reasons why, as we reported in December, a survey by the British Embassy in Spain showed that the adjective “happy” is the word that British residents most commonly use to describe their lives in Spain, followed by “relaxed” and “content”. Meanwhile, for its own “Blue Monday” coverage, The Local online newspaper highlighted 11 “very good reasons to be happy you live in Spain”. They included the most commonly known aspects (diet, food, weather, family, culture, exercise, outdoor lifestyle and partying) as well as high life expectancy (above the European average), “best place for mums” and mentality (“Spaniards… appreciate the small things and are great at living in the moment”). [caption id="attachment_4153" align="alignright" width="300"]

Citroën Aircross Concept[/caption] And for a “happy” place to live? Anywhere on the Costa del Sol really but for pure sybaritic pleasure this week we visit Puerto Banús. The apartment featured here (priced at €1,060,000) is situated in the ultra-prestigious Playas Del Duque complex, with direct access to the beach, boutiques and marina. Exceptional Homes We appreciate your taking the time to read about this stunning property, but perhaps it is not exactly right for you? If not, we invite you to have a look at our other special selections for: La Zagaleta, Luxury Villas, Golf Properties, Seafront Properties, Apartments and Special Offers. Click on the category of your choice and follow the link. Also please feel free to roam around our website: www.villamarbellanow.com.

The Spanish Path to Happiness

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