Irish climb quality-of-life rankings: We’re third in the world but unhappy

It may be just a little too facetious to suggest that life is a series of comparisons but, on the cusp of the year’s great festival of consumerism, that argument is easier to make than is healthy. Very few of us are completely self-contained and, if we are honest, we often measure our own achievements against those of others.

This is hardly unnatural, even if there can be a spiteful side to it. But comparing can also be positive, empowering, especially if we use, say, others’ academic or sporting achievements to set new targets for ourselves. If they can, why can’t I?