Striking a Chord…

Here’s a friendly reminder to make sure you get out and vote in the upcoming election. You can either vote early now or make plans to visit the polls sometime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Make sure you do your research and consider the potential biases of the sources you are receiving information from. Look at a candidate’s record and the policies they have supported in the past, if an incumbent. Previous actions (or lack of action) taken in office is a pretty good indicator of how the candidate would govern if elected again.

Also, please don’t be one of those people who says, “I don’t like either candidate, so I’m just not going to vote.” The right to vote is one of our most important rights as American citizens. It’s how “we the people” make our voices heard, and one of the ways we can most directly influence our government and the path it takes. People have fought and died to secure and preserve that right. There are many people all over the world today living under oppressive regimes who would love to be an American and actually have a say in their government. Yes, it’s true that the two candidates in any given race are not perfect; they are flawed individuals just like the rest of us. But at least we have a choice. Many people would love to have that choice. You’re not going to be able to find a candidate that completely matches your values, but you can still choose the one that would do the most good. You can choose the one that would best protect and support our country.

Also, if you refuse to vote, you forfeit your right to complain, because you could have done something about the situation but didn’t. Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now, but please do your part and don’t leave it up to someone else. - Although it’s a little after the fact, it’s worth mentioning that Monday, the 28th, was National First Responders Day.

State Representative Donna Rozar released a statement on Monday as follows: “Today, we honor the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting and saving others. From big cities to rural communities, first responders—police officers, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics—stand ready to help at a moment’s notice. Running towards a crisis when many would flee, putting their lives as risk to save others.

“In many rural areas, these everyday heroes are volunteers, serving their neighbors with limited resources and incredible dedication. Their selflessness and commitment shine through, whether in busy city streets or small town neighborhoods.”

Thank you, first responders, for all you do to keep our communities safe. Thanks for giving of yourself and willingly going into precarious situations, like the Loyal fire we saw last month. It’s situations like that one that really shine the spotlight on just how important your work is. Your service does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated.

-As I’ve written about before, America is experiencing a mental health crisis, with rates of anxiety, depression, suicide and drug overdose all at record levels. These struggles have been acutely felt by younger generations especially. Millennial men and women experience increased anxiety and depression compared to previous generations at the same age. However, there are several life milestones a person can meet that significantly reduce the likelihood of that person experiencing anxiety or depression, as well as promote economic prosperity.

In writing for the Institute for Family Studies, researchers Wendy Wang and Samuel Wilkinson identified what they call the “Success Sequence,” which consists of three steps: graduate from high school, work a full-time job, and get married before having children. They found that of adults ages 32-38 who completed the sequence, 97% are not poor when they reach adulthood, and 90% reach the middle class or higher.

The Success Sequence is also strongly linked to better mental health. Researchers calculated the percentage of participants who were highly emotionally distressed after completing each step. Of adults ages 32-38 who missed all three steps, almost a third (30%) were highly emotionally distressed. For those who had graduated from high school, that number fell to 24%. For those who had graduated and held a full-time job, the percentage dropped to 12%. And of those who completed the Success Sequence, only 9% were highly emotionally distressed. (The percentages are based on the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5), a standard screener for mood and anxiety disorders.)

None of these findings are particularly surprising, but they do reinforce the importance of education, hard work, marriage and family as supporting pillars of society. I noticed the percentage fell most dramatically between those were not employed full-time and those that were. That just speaks to the value of work and having a productive use of one’s time. Being gainfully employed contributes to a person having a sense of purpose and accomplishment. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a fast food worker or a Fortune 500 CEO; your work matters and contributes to the economy and overall functioning of society. We should respect the dignity of every worker, regardless of if they have a fancy title or not.

Analyzing the third step, marriage protects the union between the husband and wife and provides a foundation of commitment for the couple to build off of as the relationship grows and progresses. Researchers found that the Success Sequence is closely linked to family stability, which is key to mental wellbeing. Among Millennials who followed this path, 73% are in intact families (married and never divorced) by their mid-30s, compared with only 30% of those who had children before or outside of marriage. In addition, marrying before having children is not only linked to a lower risk of emotional distress but also to better general health and overall happiness.

So, even from a strictly statistical sense, marriage matters in terms of creating lasting, healthy families.

Have a pleasant week!