DAILY DIRT: If you live in Illinois, you’re likely happier than if you live in Missouri … or so they say

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands! … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 404 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Are you happy?

Well, if you live in Illinois there’s a much better chance you are than if you reside in Missouri.

Illinois residents are No. 8 on the “happiest states” listing released by Wallet-Hub.com. Those who live in Missouri, however, are No. 41.

“Happiness comes from a combination of internal and external factors,” writes Adam McCann, financial writer for WalletHub.com. “We can influence it somewhat by approaching situations positively or choosing to spend time with people we love, doing activities we enjoy.”

In its study, WalletHub drew upon the findings of “happiness” research to determine which environmental factors are linked to a person’s overall well-being and satisfaction with life. Previous studies have found that good economic, emotional, physical and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life.

“It’s harder to be happy in some years than in others, though,” McCann said. “The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the biggest stressors during the past two years, but now rampant inflation is more of a threat to Americans’ mental health.”

In fact, 87 percent of Americans are “anxious” or “very anxious” about inflation, according to a recent American Psychiatric Association poll.

To determine where Americans exhibit the best combination of factors, WalletHub examined all 50 states across 30 key metrics, ranging from the depression rate and the share of adults feeling productive to income growth and the unemployment rate.

These were the 10 “happiest” states and their overall scores:

• 1. Hawaii, 66.31
• 2. Maryland, 62.60
• 3. Minnesota, 62.43
• 4. Utah, 62.41
• 5. New Jersey, 61.71
• 6. Idaho, 61.60
• 7. California, 59.97
• 8. Illinois, 58.59
• 9. Nebraska, 58.19
• 10. Connecticut, 58.15

Notable

• 16. Iowa, 55.57
• 41. Missouri, 45.38
• 50. West Virginia, 33.83

2. Interesting fact:

During the 1961-62 NBA season, Wilt Chamberlain averaged a record 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game. Chamberlain also scored 100 points in a single game. But even more telling numbers that season for the 7-foot-1 Chamberlain may have been that he played 3,882 minutes — out of a possible 3,890. He was on the floor 99.8 percent of the time.

3. This week’s best of “Found On Facebook”:

• “OK, yes. I’ve put on some weight, but I’m tired of people making jokes at my expanse.”
• “A cannibal showed up late for dinner. So they gave him the cold shoulder.”
• “I was thinking I would make a belt out of old pocket watches. Then I figured it would just be a waist of time.”
• “I pulled a muscle digging for gold. Call it a miner injury.,”
• “Little known fact: Before the crowbar was invented, crows simply drank at home.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Another thought concerning that incredible 1961-62 season for Wilt Chamberlain: There were only nine teams in the NBA back then. Today there are 30. The 1961-62 franchises were Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Syracuse in the East, and St. Louis, Los Angeles, Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago in the West.