Why Thinking About Death Makes Us Happier

Outside Podcast

Sports, Wilderness

4.4 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 September 2021

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the United States, we rarely think about death—especially our own death. And when we do, it tends to make us sad and uncomfortable. But there are powerful benefits to regularly contemplating the fact that our time in this world will eventually come to an end. The shift in perspective can be profound and lead to a kind of deeply felt and enduring appreciation for life. In this first episode of a new series exploring pathways to happiness, we hear from journalist Michael Easter, who makes the case in his bestselling book The Comfort Crisis that, despite all the conveniences and ease of modern life, we are less happy than previous generations. A big reason for this, he says, is that we don’t think about death nearly enough. This episode is brought to you by Toyota, a company that wants to help you find joy by exploring America’s scenic byways. No matter what kind of adventure you’re after, there’s a Toyota designed to get you there. Learn more at toyota.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Outside Podcast is brought to you by Toyota, a company that wants to
0:05.4	help you find joy by exploring America's scenic byways.
0:09.5	I'm Ariel Tweedow and I would say I'm a wanderer and I'm an adventure enthusiast.
0:14.1	I don't like planning, I like hitting the road, I just like going for it and just learning.
0:19.6	Recently, Ariel and her good friend Shana took a road trip in a Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid
0:26.4	on the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway. The route runs 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia
0:33.8	and it connects two spectacular national parks, Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains.
0:39.6	Exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway is so cool because it seems like it's a never-ending road of just
0:47.5	whoa what is that? Oh my god look at the river, I don't want to go in the river.
0:51.3	I'm happiest when I'm outside in nature and when I'm with my friends and my family
0:56.5	or when I see something new for the first time. Oh my god this is super cool.
1:00.9	I feel like I'm in another world again every turn on this scenic byway. Adventure brings you
1:08.2	more excitement and stories in your life and I think the more stories you have to share with
1:13.4	other people, I think the more amusement and awe and joy that you'll have in your life.
1:19.2	Whether you're rolling through the Blue Ridge Mountains and want to vehicle the
1:22.4	delivers better gas mileage or heading off road on a very different kind of adventure,
1:27.8	there's a Toyota designed to get you there. Happiness to me is being with friends and family
1:34.0	and being in nature and just exploring. Find the right Toyota to help you find joy on America's
1:41.5	scenic byways at toyota.com
1:52.8	From outside magazine, this is the outside podcast.
2:02.8	When we decided to create a false series of episodes about people finding their way to happiness,
2:08.3	we imagined we'd be telling stories of enlightening experiences and wild places.
	...

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