Here's a statement by someone born in 1924 that reminds me of my parents and grandparents

 "Wondering if you are happy is just a short cut to being depressed"

This is what Annette Benning says at one point to her son I guess around 1979? maybe in Santa Barbara in the movie: 20th Century Women(2016)

This perfectly expresses something about people from that era.

My mother's statement (born 1919) would be (similar) which would be: "Do what you can and the rest Can".

In other words do what you can and then stuff the rest.

Which was why so many people died young not talking out their feelings then.

I remember looking out on Seattle and surrounding areas then and how incredibly depressing it could be there in the rain and cloudiness around 1953 when I was 5. So, when people told me that I was going to die as a soldier in a nuclear war this didn't really surprise me at age 5 then.

But, there was a stoic quality that I still have from my first 4 years growing up in Seattle as well as an almost Canadian like politeness that people also have there as well which has saved me so much trouble in life ever since.

Being polite, you see, helps in that people will less likely kill you or maim you most of the time. However, there are always insane people that would just as soon kill you as look at you. These are the ones you learn to spot a mile away and avoid them and even walk on the other side of the street when you see them if possible.

Whereas growing up when I did I learned to own if I was unhappy or depressed and to own if I was happy and grateful for life.

As a result mostly since I have been about 30 or 32 I am happy and grateful to be alive most of the time (except when my Dad died and I knew I wasn't happy from about 1985 until around 1998 or 1999. And I have been mostly happy (if I didn't think I was dying) ever since.

So, though I understand how to stuff or can things in survival situations I also know how to release my feelings and get therapy from friends, family or even a therapist when I know this will keep me mentally and physically well. And the rest of my family thinks like this too now. So, likely we all will live a long long time because of all this.

By God's Grace