Do you think this is true?

I think my happiest time was my 40s when I was in a career I loved, happily married, children doing well etc. I'm 72 now and still miss my job but I know I am very lucky in every other way, so I do appreciate that. What I do miss is waking up with that zingy feeling of being really happy and looking forward to the day. For no real reason that doesn't happen any more.

I am in my 60s and I think I am the happiest I've ever been.i don't have to work anymore.I don't worry about things so much and certainly not things I can't change.
In my 20s and 30s I worried about bills, job, health,friends,what I said.
In my 50s I worried about my husband and dd health and her having babies against medical advice.shes had the babies,and all are ok,and so is she.my husband got better,but lost his job through his ill health.hes got another one now.
Life is being kind to me at the moment and I don't want to change it. I may be creaky and cranky but that's ok.just let me and mine be healthy and happy! I want no more than this!

It must be an individual thing, but most young adult stress about their appearance, whether or not they will find 'the one', money, housing, having babies etc, etc. So much of that is behind pensioners. As someone else said, for pensioners who don't have financial worries, life can be very good. Also, a greater number of older adults that ever before are finding new love. I am happier than ever before. Despite missing the fitness, activities and figure I had as a younger woman, I met the man of my dreams 8 years ago (after 29 years of previous marriage), we married last year and thoroughly enjoy our life together.

PD is Parkinson's disease

Very happy in my 20s, a fulfilling job in a wonderful country (Kenya), great social life, eventually marriage. in 30s, lovely children, though there were health concerns for a while; interesting part-time work. 40s - all began to unravel, divorce and unhappiness then adapting to being on my own with support of much loved sons. 50s, happy again, self-sufficient, job OK, political responsibility, OU courses, new GD then redundancy!The message I draw from all of this is that I have been content to be self-sufficient, despite divorce, bereavement, crumbling joints. But the best of all is family - DSs and DGC. Difference between contentment and happiness is family.

PD is Parkinson's Disease. Not great but not a death sentence either

My twenties, thirties and forties were the happiest times. Fifties started to go down hill with DH's health and children flying the nest and now sixties and DH sadly gone I am so miserable, I sometimes wonder what it's all about and whether it's worth it. I do try to see the best in everything, but it is so hard and lonely. You don't know until it happens, how much life will change.

So sorry to read Ilrina and Jackiekiel's posts. And Tudorrose - what is PD? Have you considered/been offered counselling? All the best to you three.

I think I have been lucky I felt happy at every stage - childhood, teenage years, early marriage, kids, work, retirement. Obviously I've had a few down days but in general 'Life is what you make it and taking all opportunities".
You only get one go etc etc

Which one was that narrowboatnan? Something I've always wanted to do, albeit in my dreams as I can't even sit on a horse without falling off. I live out my fantasies by going racing and seeing other people do it. In my childhood dreams I WAS National Velvet...

25 was a good age for me. Newly wed and working in a horse racing yard, which I loved. Flying up the gallops at six o'clock in the morning, it was lovely. Nowadays I'm too scared (and too fat) to even sit on a horse.

I'm in my 60s and my first grandchild was born 7 months ago! I have never been as happy! I am totally besotted with him, and he has made the present and the future feel like a big adventure!

Not sur where the "next" came from

I think that when you are in your twenties, you have hope for the future and there is a good chance that if life is tough, there is always plenty of time for it to improve. When you get to your sixties or seventies, there is considerably less time and the best you can hope for is that health and money hold out next that the limitations of an ageing body don't put too many restraints on your enjoyment of life.

I was definitely happiest in my 20s. I got married, bought a house, had two children, bought a bigger and better house in the country, had another child. Life was full of action. Not everything was wonderful but there was plenty of time and hope for the future. I'm 67 now, on my own for 8 years, no family nearby and little chance of change. Life seems to be one challenge after another these days. I bought a new cooker in June and the hood is still in a box on the kitchen floor. It only needs to be screwed to the wall, no ducting required, but Currys' delivery people wouldn't fit it because they are not trained to work at heights (!) and I can't find a handyman prepared to do such a small job. It's a fairly small niggle in the great scheme of things but it seems to sum up life at the moment.

I was happiest in my 30s & 40s. We were able to move to a slightly better house, my boy & girl were happy in a good school close to home. I had friends & family around. We now live on the south coast and settled after missing the Midlands for quite a while. I felt very blessed with my life, nice home, wonderful husband happily married children, one only 10. Mins away, 3 beautiful gch. Now my lovely life has collapsed with a diagnosis of PD. I am devasted & feel I will never be happy again.

Of course we are happier than today's twenty year olds, we have the benefit of work pensions; state pensions, many of us have paid off our mortgages and wondering whether to downsize. Whereas, young people are facing a hard time, struggling to get on the housing ladder, no job security etc.etc. We gransnetters are the fortunate ones even though things seemed so difficult at the time.

I also feel that every day is just another struggle looming. I fear so much for the future and the state pf this world. I have lost so many people dear to me, and my health is poor.

Loneliness is acknowledged to be one of the causes of death now as it brings with it depression etc. No answer to that because I am lonely for people who have gone and my life also which has gone and I feel wasted.

My best time was mid twenties, had a wonderful Nursing career, met my Husband, moved to Sweden, still here, although wish I wasnt sometimes,DH passed away some years ago, but quite satisfied with life at present, 75 this year.
So sorry to hear about Ilrina and Jackiekiel, hope things improve, best wishes.

I enjoyed my thirties with young children but also had sad times losing parents I feel each decade as good and bad things I try to enjoy every age you will never see that age again . ?To all not feeling too happy at moment

Jackiekiel, so sorry x

I was happiest when my children were at home with us, especially when they were teenagers and almost adults. I remember thinking at the time that I would never be happier. Also we were living in Holland the life there was wonderful. Coming back to England and the children leaving home was a real shock. I am content now and not unhappy despite being tied by very elderly parents but it is not the same as having young people around.

I'm in my early seventies and am unhappier than I've ever been. There's a very good reason for this, though. My beloved partner died of a sudden heart attack and I can't come to terms with not having him here.

So sorry Ilrina.
What you feel.at which age depends on your life at the time surely. Pretty happy always but must be a bit of a Pollyanna.
Would like to have 20 year old self with a bit of what I know now.

llrina sorry about whatever is making you so upset ,