Secrets of a happy life

Low standards!

pleasing myself.

Being content with what I have and being realistic about what I would like to have.

There is no secert.

Life is a roller coaster.
Enjoy the good and live in the moment

Get through the not so good as best one can.

At such times, I try to channel my inner Gloria Gaynor
'I will survive!!!'

Are you doing media research Revolucion ?

No idea. I'm a miserable so and so. My DH tells me I'm 'like a week of wet weather'

I am with you Cherrytree

I have had some dreadful, really frightening and miserable times (which lasted for more than a decade) but after them the realisation that I survived and still loved life was a revelation.

I think appreciating what you have rather than bemoaning things you don't have helps. It also easier if you have your health and strength, I know that too. Get as much good out of every day that you can. Be nice to people, go with the flow, roll with the inevitable punches - and remember we are a long time dead.

Aw, not your fault KatyK.

I have always managed to find humour in anything and everything. I'm a walking situation comedy act ! Doesn't take much ! I got it from my dad then passed it on to the family because they can all laugh through adversity too. It stops you from going insane at times.

I believe in accepting the things you cannot change, having the courage to change those you can and the having the wisdom to know the difference.

I'm like cherrytree enjoy the good times and do the best you can when things are difficult.

I’m not doing media research, just recovering from burnout!

There is no secret to a happy life, you just muddle through.

That's an original thought Dragonfly.

Expect the worse - then everything else seems like bonus.

Copious amounts of red wine.

I think love gas got to be in the mix somewhere. Loving your family and being loved back? Something that doesn't seem to come easily to so many.

No. Not "love gas*. God knows what that is but it sounds sinister!

Yeah sorry Gonegirl I couldn't resist but it is what I live by and has come in very handy recently.

Make me laugh EllenVannin.

dragonfly ? sorry!

I think we all need some love gas, Gonegirl!

A happy life? What is that? I wake up feeling happy some days for no apparent reason and wake up miserable on others for the same.
Happy moments: yes of course and being able to enjoy those.
I'm at my happiest, ie most content, when I know that all my loved ones are happy and preferably surrounded by them.
I agree it's good not to have too high aspirations. Achieve one thing per day is about right and it can be quite a small thing.
I think I was at my most miserable when I was a teenager and life seemed hard, sad and lonely. Then I met my DH and that changed everything for the better.

I suspect it's the character one is born with.

Also how you deal with life's traumas.

Kitty
Absolutely. Some of us are lucky to have the capacity to not let what my friend called lifes eternal quagmire get us down: I'm one of them.