The gift of disorder
For a better life, look for and forward to the unexpected
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously remarked that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. New research suggests that even reasonable consistency might pose a danger to your health and well-being.
A recent study by researchers at Texas A&M discovered a correlation between mortality rates and the shape of city parks. Strange as it seems, if you live in a community with irregularly shaped green spaces, your chances of a longer and healthier life markedly improve.
The study, however, identifies only correlation; it makes no attempt to explain causation. Why should the shape of my local park affect my mental and physical health?