CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- OK, here's another poll that puts West Virginia at the bottom of the list.

This time it's the Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index, and it's being touted as the "happiest state" poll. West Virginia ranks dead last -- for the third year in a row!

I may be biased, but I beg to differ. While Hawaii ranked at the top ("Duh ... winning," as Charlie Sheen would say), I don't understand what other top contenders like South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska have over us.

So I took a closer look at the criteria used in the poll:

First of all, the category "access to health insurance" puts a lot of states in the same boat -- with the uncertain implications of the continuing health-care debate on the national level.

You might say the same thing about access to health care on a policy basis, although that category also could take into consideration the rural nature of our state -- and the fact that residents often have to travel greater distances to health-care facilities.

OK, I'll admit we have a way to go in some of these categories. Our state is among the highest for rates of diabetes and obesity. That certainly factors into the ranking for physical health, and could carry over into the category of health behaviors. I'll grant them that.

And, while we may not have the variety of fruits and vegetables found in some other locales, my take is that our access is plentiful. Another case in point for my view of the "apples and oranges" approach taken by this poll, and the descriptors they've come up with to measure happiness and well-being.

The work environment category would, no doubt, take into account dangerous conditions that come with working in certain industries. We have our share of those, but so do other states. And sometimes West Virginia is unfairly penalized in terms of "per capita" statistics. The fact that we have a smaller population can often make for more startling results simply because our base is so small.

Which leaves the categories of emotional health and life evaluation, two of the most important, in my opinion. And that's where I think we shine.

Ask anyone who knows anything about West Virginia's people, and I'll bet you hear comments like this: "friendly," "they take their time with you," "they really care" and "they're the friendliest people in the country."

I have some friends, Matt and Maria, who visited me awhile back from Washington, D.C. I lived in that area before I moved to Charleston, so I have a good barometer on the contrasts between the two areas.

After our visit in Charleston, Matt and Maria decided to take a meandering route back home so they could spend some time traveling around the state. You guessed it: Their report back to me was that we have the friendliest people on earth -- hands down.

Case in point: They were enjoying some time in Pocahontas County and ended up spending a pleasurable night at a motel near Marlinton. When checking out the next morning, Matt pulled out his credit card and was informed that the motel didn't take credit cards. They'd be glad to take a check, though.

The only problem was Matt and Maria had not brought a checkbook along. Think about it: When traveling these days, most of us use credit cards for the convenience and to save the hassle of trying to get an out-of-state check approved.

The proprietor of the motel saw the "deer-in-the-headlights" look on Matt's face as he explained he didn't have a check. No sooner had he gotten the sentence out of his mouth than the proprietor offered, "That's OK. You can just mail it to me when you get back home."

Let me repeat that: "You can just mail it to me when you get home."

I can just see that city boy's jaw dropping to the floor. He couldn't believe his ears, whereupon she reassured him that she trusted him and that everything would be all right.

As things turned out, Matt and Maria had enough cash on them to pay for the night's lodging, so they didn't need to take the proprietor up on her offer. You'd better believe, though, that this story has definitely made the rounds in the greater D.C. area!

So, I'm thinking friendliness has to be an important factor in the reflection of one's emotional health. While this certainly isn't based on anything scientific, it just seems there would be a correlation between the two. After all, "happy" and "friendly" seem to go hand in hand.

And I'd also venture to say that one's "life evaluation" (however that's measured) would be reflected in the way they treat other people. You can only be consumed with anger, sadness and rage on the inside for so long before it shows up on the outside.

So, it just doesn't add up to me that we've been the unhappiest state for three years running -- and still win the gold medal for friendliness.

Maybe the Gallup pollsters need to consider friendliness as a measurement tool. While I'd like our state to get higher marks in the other areas -- and I know we're addressing those -- I'm proud to be known as the state with the friendliest people. It sure ranks right up there with fruits and vegetables.

Food for thought.

Linda Arnold, MBA, is a certified wellness instructor and chairman/CEO of The Arnold Agency, a marketing communications firm specializing in advertising, public relations, government relations and interactive marketing. Reader comments are welcome and may be directed to Linda Arnold, The Arnold Agency, 117 Summers St., Charleston, WV 25301, or e-mailed to livelifefu...@arnoldagency.com.