The relationship between money, personal relationships and happiness is at the center of our society. The story of Sandra Bullock is a recent example. As our income starts growing the marginal gain in happiness from money tends to decrease. It is no flimsy or philosophical argument but is proved by research. There may be some incremental happiness with additional income or career achievement but that depends on how we define success as. In sum, the relationship between money and happiness is complicated and often tenuous.

On the other hand, personal relationships and happiness have direct link. The activities that bring us most happiness – backed by research – are sex, socializing after work and having dinner with others. The daily activity most harmful to happiness is commuting. (tell me about it!)

As someone said, 30 years later we will think more about what we could have done in that time than what we did.