What makes people happiest? A tough question for a second-year student who headed to class with a healthy dose of reluctance. It was an open-ended question from Dr. Kilian Wawoe, who teaches the course in Work and Organisational Psychology. Who knows? A few unsure answers were thrown out into the lecture hall: “meaning”, “freedom”, “money”, “other people”.
That’s right, other people. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my 22 years of living is the importance of community. Community is the biggest factor in determining our happiness. Community isn’t just about knowing people. It’s the feeling of belonging somewhere, of being seen, and of being part of something bigger than yourself. This idea has a special place on my right arm, Matisse’s The Dance.
Sometimes, I miss that feeling. And I know it might sound a little cheesy and cliché, but I’m going to say it anyway. Your phone is holding you back from connecting with others.
I know it’s easy, and actually quite nice, to get lost in a doomscroll or the music in your AirPods. Taking a moment for yourself is necessary to stay sane, but I think there’s often a lack of awareness when you reach for your phone. Why do you pick it up? Are you afraid of getting bored? Are you avoiding eye contact in the elevator when you’re standing there with someone you vaguely know? Or are you making yourself look busy? Because let’s be honest, just staring into space on the tram can feel pretty awkward, and where are you supposed to put your hands?
I know your phone isn’t the devil incarnate. I love doomscrolling in bed myself and think noise-cancelling headphones are an amazing invention. But I’d like to inspire you to be more mindful when taking it out of your pocket. Consider me your critical, mildly concerned mother.
You never know what you’re missing out on when you shut yourself off. In Vienna, I met an Austrian man who loves Apenheul, a monkey park in the Netherlands. At work, a thirteen-year-old explained to me what ‘skibidi toilet’, ‘aura farming’ and ‘unc’ mean, which apparently made me an unc as well.
In The Dance, the figures hold each other’s hands and form a circle together. No one stands alone. The circle exists because everyone participates. For me, that’s the essence of community. And if you’re wondering where to put your hands: hold them out and see what you might find.
What’s going on
• Finalising the USR’s policy plan
• Organising their first event