As I grew wiser with every passing decade on Midwestern soil, I realized how important it is to be in atmospheres that boost my happiness. As a reader of this column, you may take Umbridge with the word wisdom. Feel free to replace that word with age.
Here are bonafide locations that add joy to my life.
Every time I visit a pet store, I witness dogs thrilled to be out doing business with their best friends. The last time I went, a 4-year-old girl introduced me to her rabbit they just adopted from the Humane Society. Her smile was radiant, and her enthusiasm was contagious. I nearly adopted a rabbit that day.
I encourage you to sit at a high school basketball game next to the parents of a senior who is the 7th one off the bench. That scholar athlete will not be playing at the next level, but you can guarantee that maximum effort and floor burns will be secured if she or he enters the game. That same hustle will benefit that individual later in life. The stars get all the adulation anyway. These players often embody the concept of teamwork.
You’ve read many times in Expand magazine about the health benefits of being out in nature. I am 120 credits shy of becoming a doctor, but I can add to that by saying that if you go on a hike at Stone State Park and don’t have a cell phone signal, your happiness factor increases by 200 percent. Ditch the phone. Enjoy the scenery.
Listening to podcasts on Barstool Sports is enjoyable. Conversations that take it to the next level happen at Hy-Vee or McDonald’s on a Tuesday morning when a group of eight men in the 80s discuss the problems of the world, the recent heartbreaking loss of their favorite team, and why the price of fill-in-the-blank is so darn high. Healthy relationships are important at any stage in life. Plus, when you have more than 80 years on Earth, you can learn by listening. I hope to be invited into a group like that someday.
I learned this trick from my podcast buddy Josh. When you think of someone, give them a call. If you are lucky enough to be able to reach out to them, do it. Time is fleeting. There is no guarantee they will answer your call someday. Take advantage of the present. Allocate time to connecting with loved ones using the call function of your phone and not doomscrolling.
Find a hobby you really enjoy, wait for it, and allocate time to do it. The biggest wake-up call you can have is seeing how much time you spend on your device at the end of the week. Imagine if you invested that time in meeting with a friend for coffee, exercising on the Pickleball court, reading a favorite author, or digging out that Led Zeppelin 2 album you received as a high school graduation gift.
Finally, belief in a higher power can make challenging times in your life less burdensome. I don’t think Zeppelin qualifies unless you are talking about track number four on Led Zeppelin IV. That totally counts. Over the past six months, I have met many individuals benefiting from attending church services. I include myself in that mix. It’s funny how an hour in a church pew can balance you the rest of the week. Invest an hour, and it may become a habit. Remember to enable airplane mode or leave your phone on the hiking trail at Stone State Park.
Your mood-boosting locations may vary. Hop on over to @baldandwitty on X and share your favorite locations. If I can convince my lovely wife, I will show you pictures of my new pet rabbit.
By Tony Michaels, the founder of BaldandWitty.com, and is on the What the Father podcast.
