Childhood Parental Relationships *Men who maintained warm relationships with their parents during childhood earned more money as adults compared to those with looser parental bonds. They were happier in old age and had lower chances of developing dementia. Those with strong marriages experienced less physical and emotional pain throughout their lives. Close personal friendships were a better predictor of healthy aging than cholesterol levels.

From Daniel Pink’s ‘The Power of Regret’ –

Much is determined in childhood. It’s striking to realize that a person’s happiness or unhappiness originates from their childhood relationship with their parents. In youth, it’s about marriage; in old age, it’s about close friendships. In other words, ‘warm relationships’ between people determine the health and happiness of the next stage of life. ‘Warm relationships’ mean love. A child raised with love and respect grows up to be wealthy. Wealthy in material, wealthy in heart!