The Harvard Study of Human Development has followed the lives of two generations of individuals from the same families for more than 80 years. The conclusions from this study have been published in a book titled, The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schultz PhD. The authors point out in the first chapter that if they had to boil the Harvard Study down to a single point it would be: “Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.” They go on to say, “So if you’re going to make that one choice, that single decision that could best ensure your own health and happiness, science tells us that your choice should be to cultivate warm relationships. Of all kinds.” There you have it. It doesn’t get any more straightforward than that. The authors further point out that it’s never too late to start. As they put it, “The good life is in front of you sometimes only an arm’s length away and it starts now.”
