From Happiness to ... Happiness ?

Back in my home of Canada now, Bhutan in many ways seems like a dream.  It’s still hard to believe such a place can still exist, even after seven months there.  The inspirations that arose in me there continue, and I pray they last.  And I still hope that a place like that can hold true to its vision, to its own inspirations, and not succumb to too many of the global forces it faces that are already attempting to pressure it into submission.

For myself, I have inevitably had to succumb to a certain extent.  I have taken a job with the Government of Alberta, in their International and Intergovernmental Relations Ministry, in a research and policy position.  The job is a great fit for me, and I know their HR department is doing their job, yet I did have to spend some time equivocating and thinking deeply about morality and intentions before accepting the position.  But after seeing how the government there is aiming to be much more responsible globally, especially in relation to sustainability and international leadership (something that our federal government sorely lacks, even though the great Canadian tradition in this regard continues in many ways), and realizing that change is made from within and not from the sidelines, I have surrendered to this position, and see it as a great opportunity to grow, learn, and hopefully, thrive.  So I am packing my bags for Edmonton, and am excited for something different, a cold, clear and crisp winter, and new challenges and opportunities.

I was surprised to observe, when my wife recently discovered, that one of the global specialists about the economics of happiness (in fact, this is the very name of his book) calls Edmonton home, and more specifically, the Strathcona neighbourhood where we aim to live.  Both my wife and I lived in Edmonton as young teenagers, know this area well, and have fond memories of it.  While it has further gentrified, it is also home to many interesting people and initiatives, from farmer’s markets to slow food, to happiness and wellbeing advising, to parks and green space along the river.  I’m hoping we soon find somewhere nice to live and get reacquainted with the area, from a more intimate perspective.  The author just mentioned famously declined a move to California for an offer to lead a happiness think-tank in order to stay in Edmonton, and I’m sure he had good reasons.  Hopefully we will come to understand these.

The city of Edmonton has also taken to measuring its wellbeing, according to the very progressive Genuine Wellbeing Index, as well as the Genuine Progress Indicators, which seeks to account for the real economy of a place, including social and natural capital in addition to economic, and therefore accounting for sustainability and a more long-term vision.  That these are being measured makes me quite happy already, and it’s also positive to note that Genuine Well-being is on the rise in Edmonton, after a decline from 1985 to 1998 by about 15%, it has now risen again to 95% of early 1980s levels (which were apparently very happy times in Edmonton .. and that’s when I first lived there.  I don’t think there is any causal relationship between Oilers success, though it seems there is some correlation there indeed.  You can’t escape hockey madness in Canada, as much as I try).  

Anyways, these are positive signs for me, and I know that my work place downtown will be a short transit or bike ride away from where we will likely be living, and historic Strathcona is a very green and walking-friendly area.  Apparently Edmonton also has more park-land than any other city in Canada, and Strathcona has numerous parks, as well as the river nearby which is surrounded by green-space.  So, all in all, we are feeling good about the move, and hoping to settle in before it gets too cold.  But also eagerly awaiting the cool, clear nights with many stars, Northern lights, and comfortable evenings in our new home, wherever that may be.