Two Sylvias' Weekly Muse: September 10, 2023

Issue 72

Hello Poets, Writers, and Artists!

An interesting article appeared several months ago in The Atlantic written by Arthur C. Brooks, one of their contributors who also runs the How to Build a Happy Life podcast. Brooks discusses several studies involving Olympic athletes who won medals, specifically those winning silver and bronze. In an odd twist, those athletes who won bronze medals appeared happier right after their sporting event and more excited when they were on the awards podium than the silver medalists. In a long-term study, bronze medal athletes were generally more satisfied and happier in their lives than both gold and silver medalists, and these bronze metal athletes tended to live quite a bit longer than those who had won first and second place.

What can we learn from this research on Olympic athletes? Perhaps competition and coming out on top does not always lead to contentment and confidence. And what lessons can be gleaned when it comes to our writing and creative lives? L…