10
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Commentary...
Happiness and well-being
By Mitchell Luftig
Columnist
Since 2005, residents of
153 nations have been asked
each year by the Gallup
World Poll to imagine their
current position on a ladder
with steps numbered from
zero to 10, where the top rep-
resents the best possible life
and the bottom the worst pos-
sible life for themselves.
These <life evaluations=
provide researchers with
a measure of a nation9s
well-being.
The World Happiness
Report averaged life evalua-
tions from 2017 to 2019.
When nations were ranked
according to their average life
evaluation scores, the United
States placed 18th; 153 coun-
tries reported less well-being
than the U.S.
The World Happiness
Report identified six fac-
tors that helped to explain
75 percent of the differences
in well-being scores across
nations:
Four social-environmental
factors 4 having someone to
count on, institutional trust, a
sense of freedom to make key
life decisions, and generosity
4 <together account for as
much as income and healthy
life expectancy in explaining
the gap between the 10 hap-
piest and the 10 least-happy
countries in the world.=
Around the world
When other forms of
social support are unavail-
able, well-being can still be
achieved through social con-
nections 4 having at least
one friend or relative avail-
able for intimate discussions,
and participating in social
meetings at least once a week.
Positive emotions con-
tribute to well-being. When
people feel the freedom to
make key life decisions and
are generous to others they
are more likely to experience
laughter, happiness, and joy.
Since 2010, there has been
a surge in worry and sadness
around the world. Strong
social support, freedom to
make decisions, and faith
in government can reduce
negative emotions, including
worry, sadness, and anger.
Positive emotions have a
greater influence on ratings of
well-being than the absence
of negative emotions.
One of the most exciting
discoveries was that social
supports in the form of inter-
personal trust (having some-
one to count on) and institu-
tional trust (faith in govern-
ment) can provide protection
against declines in well-being
caused by:
" Discrimination
" Ill health
" Unemployment
" Low income
" Loss of family support
(through separation, divorce,
or spousal death)
" Lack of perceived night-
time safety.
Social supports can act
<&as protective buffers
against adversity and as sub-
stitutes for income as means
of achieving better lives.=
Another striking find-
ing was that social sup-
ports reduce inequality of
well-being.
Individuals at the greatest
risk of experiencing adver-
sity, but fortunate enough
to live in communities with
strong social supports, expe-
rience the most significant
improvement in well-being
scores.
Strong social supports
contribute to a fairer distri-
bution of well-being across
communities.
How this impacts Sisters
Country
We have seen a large
influx of families to our area,
some fleeing large cities.
Families left behind friends
and relatives who helped
them when they were in
trouble. Lacking <someone to
count on,= newcomers may
be forced into a greater reli-
ance upon governmental pro-
grams and local nonprofits.
We must be ready to
respond to the growing need,
giving Sisters Country the
opportunity to strengthen
institutional trust as a means
to promote well-being.
Newcomers often lack
social connections that can
contribute to well-being. It
takes time to get to know
neighbors and establish
friendships. Pandemic
restrictions on social gather-
ings create additional barri-
ers to meeting others in the
community.
We can all extend the
hand of friendship by intro-
ducing new residents to their
neighbors, inviting them to
attend (Zoom) meetings, and
informing them of volunteer
opportunities where they can
connect with others in the
community.
We can also provide social
supports to those neighbors
most at risk of adversity. Not
only will this help to insulate
them against a decline in their
well-being, but it will also
redistribute well-being more
fairly across our community.
The State of Oregon has
been prioritizing federal
and state dollars to support
Oregonians most impacted
economically by the pan-
demic. Governor Kate Brown
has placed additional restric-
tions on our lives to slow the
spread of COVID-19.
Some chafe under the
additional restrictions on their
freedom imposed by the gov-
ernor. After all, the freedom
to live our lives as we see fit,
along with generosity, results
in such positive emotions as
laughter, happiness, and joy.
Others view it as a fair price
for staying healthy and keep-
ing others safe.
It9s important that we
acknowledge both points of
view.
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
Road Construction Ahead
COFRW Luncheon
Veterans Meeting
Th e City of Sisters will soon
begin work on the S. Cedar St.
to S. Locust St. Alley Waterline
Replacement Project. Th is project
will impact the alleys both north
and south of E. Jeff erson Avenue,
connecting S. Cedar with S. Locust
streets. Th e City’s contractor,
Robinson & Owen Heavy
Construction, anticipates a start
date of April 1, possibly sooner,
and the work will take 35-45
days. Work will take place during
business hours and pedestrian
and vehicle access through the
alleys will be unavailable on
weekdays for the duration of the
project. If you have children and
live on either side of the alleys,
please direct them to stay away
from the construction zone
and equipment. Please park
on the frontage or side streets
during this project. Contact Paul
Bertagna if you have questions at
pbertagna@ci.sisters.or.us or
541-323-5212.
Th e Central Oregon Federated
Republican Women will hold a
luncheon in Sisters on Th ursday,
March 4 from 10:30 a.m. until
1 p.m. Th e cost will be $18 per
person, payable with cash or
check, or $19 if paying with a
credit card. Th e bar will be open
for purchase of wine, soda or
mixed drink. Due to COVID
restrictions, seating will be limited.
Meeting will start promptly at
11 a.m. with our guest speaker,
Don Anderson, a former contract
negotiator for the US Air Force
and sales manager with several
pharmaceutical companies.
He authored a series of articles
entitled “Th e Dad Rants,” which
communicates to children about
the importance of knowing not
what to think, but how to think.
Please email for reservations to
jamanna@jamanna.com or call
541-705-1623.
Sisters VFW Post 8138 and
American Legion Post 86 are
meeting at the quonset hut (Th e
Hangar) on W. McKinney Butte
Rd. at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday,
March 3. All veterans in the
area are encouraged to join! For
more information call Lance
Trowbridge at 541-903-1123.
Monthly Conversation
on Unity
Th e Council on Aging of Central
Oregon is serving seniors (60+)
free Grab-N-Go lunches on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
Th ursdays each week. Th e
lunches are distributed on a
fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis
sis drive-
through style from 12 to 12:30
p.m. at the Sisters Community
unity
Church, 1300 W. Mckenzie e
Hwy. Seniors may drive
through the parking lot and
nd d
pick up a meal each day of
service. Come on by, no need
eed
to make a reservation. For more
information call 541-678-5483.
Th e Baha’i Faith is a worldwide
religion that believes in the
Unity of Humanity. You are
invited to join them in a monthly
conversation which employs
specifi c writings and prayers
for unity, with input from
participants in building a diverse
and just community. Th e fi rst
conversation will be held on
Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. Please
call or text 541-647-9826 for your
copy of the Baha’i perspective
about the elimination of racism
and for the Zoom meeting link
for the fi rst conversation. Call
Shauna at 541-647-9826 for info.
Sisters Library
Children’s Activities
Deschutes Public Library is
off ering virtual events and take-
home activities for children.
On Tuesdays at 10 a.m. join
community librarians and other
preschoolers for songs, rhymes,
stories and fun. Online story time
is live at 10 a.m. on Th ursdays and
at 10:30 a.m. children ages 3 to 5
can join in music and movement
to develop literacy skills. Parents,
don’t miss the opportunity to
pick up a story time activity kit
for your preschooler at Sisters
Library on Th ursdays starting at
noon. Available while supplies
last. Go to www.deschuteslibrary.
org/kids/programs or call
541-312-1032 for more info.
Free Weekly Grab-N-Go
Lunches For Seniors
Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers, after a long
delay due to COVID, have
decided to resume weekly lunch
meetings at Takodas. Meetings
will resume on Wednesday,
March 3 in the regular room
(which should hold 20 people).
Th e doors open at 11 a.m.
and the meeting will start at
11:30. You have to wear a mask
if you’re moving about the
building but can remove it if
you’re seated. All veterans of any
service are invited to attend! Call
541-549-6469 for more info.
PET OF THE WEEK
Humane Society of Central Oregon
541-382-3537
Weekly Food Pantry
Wellhouse Church has a weekly
food pantry on Th ursdays. Food
is currently being distributed
drive-through style from 12:30
until all food is distributed at
the Wellhouse Market building,
222 N. Trinity Way. People in
need of food may drive through
the parking lot and pick up a
bag of food for their household.
Other Sisters-area churches are
joining with Wellhouse Church
to contribute both fi nancially
and with volunteers to help
sustain the program. For more
information, call 541-549-4184.
Sponsor an Impoverished
Child from Uganda
Hope Africa International,
based in Sisters, has many
children awaiting sponsorship! For
more info go to hopeafricakids.
org or call 541-719-8727.
Introducing the world’s
sweetest Tabasco! This boy
may have a spicy name, but
he is sweet as sugar! This hot
little number is a 12-year-young
orange tabby on the hunt for
his new forever home, where he
can spend the rest of his days
in happy retirement. Tabasco
is an extremely charming cat,
who loves attention, treats and
petting sessions. Come down
to HSCO, open his cattery door
and receive a warm welcome
from Tabasco!
Sponsored
by
&
S U P P LY
541-549-4151
Please call the church before attending to verify current status of services as restrictions are adjusted.
SISTERS-AREA CHURCHES
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA)
386 N. Fir Street • 541-549-5831
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
www.shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com
Sisters Community Church
(Nondenominational)
1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com
St. Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church
123 Trinity Way • 541-549-9391
5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass
9 a.m. Sunday Mass • 8 a.m. Monday-Friday Mass
Calvary Church (NW Baptist Convention)
484 W. Washington St., Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288
10 a.m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org
Th e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
452 Trinity Way • Branch President, 541-420-5670;
10 a.m. Sunday Sacrament Meeting
Baha’i Faith
Currently Zoom meetings: devotions, course trainings,
informational fi resides. Local contact Shauna Rocha
541-647-9826 • www.bahai.org or www.bahai.us
Chapel in the Pines
Camp Sherman • 541-549-9971
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
Sisters Church of the Nazarene
67130 Harrington Loop Rd. • 541-389-8960
www.sistersnaz.org • info@sistersnaz.org
10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship
Wellhouse Church
442 Trinity Way • 541-549-4184
https://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com
10 a.m. Sunday Worship (Indoor & Outdoor Venues)
Vast Church (Nondenominational)
541-719-0587 • 5 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Worship
at 442 Trinity Way (Wellhouse building).
See www.vastchurch.com for details.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
386 N. Fir St. • 541-595-6770, 541-306-8303
11 a.m. Saturday Worship
Th e Episcopal Church of the Transfi guration
68825 Brooks Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087
8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship (Sunday school,
childcare) 10:15 a.m. Episcopal Sunday Worship
(Sunday school, childcare)