Wonderful observation yourself, Ruma! Stress and high expectations don't lead to a lot of happiness. I'm shocked about Nigeria, because year after year, they lead Transparency Internatinal's list of Most Corrupt Countries. Yet, there they are.... happy.
A good friend of mine who grew up here in Chicago moved to Hawaii and lived on various islands there. He came back for a visit once and I asked him the most striking differences he noticed. I thought he'd say the congestion or the weather, but he said, "Everyone here [Chicago] is in a rush. And they never smile." When I asked him if he wouldn't have expected that since he spent the first 25 years of his life here, he said he had gotten used to a laid-back island style where people were happy with what they had and smiled because of it.
An old saying says to look up to people who are richer than you with knowledge and wisdom - you'll desire to be like them and will take steps to acquire more knowledge yourself - but to associate with people who have less material goods than you - you'll feel grateful for what you have and not be chasing 'the next new material thing'.
So I leave you with a hearty "ALOHA!" and a
.