My dear daughter,
Still on yesterday’s subject, studies have actually shown longevity is associated with a strong friendship circle, or family circle, where people meet frequently in person.
It appears having good humor and laughing a lot helps. It’s more of a matter of wellbeing than happiness. We did not evolve to be happy all the time. But laughing, for example, releases endorphins in the brain, which are natural painkillers.
I’m interested in anthropological aspects. The familiar circle is a form of protecting the gene pool. The friendship circle provides a sense of safety.
Both require effort to keep. We developed the custom of exchanging gifts as a means of strengthening family and friendship bonds. There is also exchange of favors, food, there are rituals and festivals, religious or not, designed to improve bonding. It gives a sense of shared destiny. Community.
On the other hand, we have developed a deep sense of mistrust and aggression towards “strangers”, people from other tribes or clans. Even so, we have created mechanisms to alleviate animosity, because war and conflict waste too much energy, resources and potential. So tribes started to trade with each other, which also brought cultural exchange. Even the gene pool benefited from new variants with the customs of exchanging warriors, women, children, hostages, etc.
We are a species which thrives on numbers, on bonding and collaboration, more than anything else.
Love,
Dad
Aspergers Dad 