How happy are you?

Before you answer, let me first tell you that when Canadians were asked this question, 32% responded that they were ‘very happy’. If you add these to those who considered themselves ‘quite happy’ and then subtract the 12% who responded that they were ‘not at all’ or ‘not very happy’, you get a net happiness score for Canada of 75%. This puts our nation at 17th place in the world. We are well ahead of people in countries such as the Dominican Republic (32, 47%), Russia (46, 2%) and, in 50 th place, Bulgaria with a score of minus 24%. Conversely, we are behind France, Australia, and the happiest place in the world, which is –wait for it– Iceland.

So back to my question: how happy are you? As you consider this, a number of things may come to mind: satisfaction with your circumstances, how you feel about the past, present and future, and of course where you live. If deciding how happy you are in general is proving a bit tricky, try this: “How happy are you that you live in Sutton (or wherever it is that you live)?” And why is that the case?

Lynda Graham enjoying the front porch of the B&B

This winter I thought about my own happiness here in Sutton when I was looking out the window on 8 January 2007 at a scene largely bereft of snow and a reservation book for my B&B that was, in consequence, rather bereft of bookings. It was easy to feel somewhat down about my adopted home at that moment, and I detected a similar mood of despondency amongst many other business owners. This feeling was superficial, however; as soon as the snow came I remembered that fundamentally I am very happy that I live here in Sutton, and a recent experience may help explain why.

One Sunday my boyfriend and I paid a visit to La valse des pains, the new boulangerie on Depot Street. A master baker, previously employed at one of Montreal’s most renowned bakeries, had chosen to leave the city and come here, to Sutton, to bake bread and other items for our delight. Yes, here in this small municipality of just over 3,500 souls, we are privileged to have yet another individual speciality food store of the highest quality.

I can walk along rue Principale, greeting and being greeted by pleasant people, stop for a coffee, eat a good meal, and do my shopping in a personalised way instead of in the anonymity that is so much a feature of city life. I feel safe at home. I have no fear walking the streets at night. There are two excellent libraries. I can enjoy shows and music most weekends, and on my doorstep there is our beautiful mountain. How could I be anything other than happy here in Sutton? This translates directly into why I find it easy to make my guests at the B&B feel happy: my genuine love of the village shines out. I want my clients to feel as happy as I do whilst they are here. So, rejoice in the diversity and choices of our village, take advantage of the small stores, patronise the restaurants, walk the trails, and help ensure that this village remains a source of happiness for you and others.

Lynda Graham

Gîte Vert le Mont
www.bbsutton.com