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When were you happiest?

(37 Posts)
trisher Sat 19-Oct-19 14:24:26

There is some very strange research out there at the moment that says the happiest year ever was 1880 and the most miserable 1978. It's based apparently on looking at printed matter and finding certain words and how often they occur. Now I can believe that there were people who could read and write who were happy and wanted to read lightweight things , but as for everybody? I really doubt it.
As for 1978 I had a young baby. I was just shattered all the time!
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-happiest-year-1880-queen-victoria-ashes-australia-benjamin-disraeli-a9156036.html

KatyK Sat 19-Oct-19 14:40:11

I was quite happy in 1978. I was 29. Still gorgeous grin. Our daughter was 9. We had our own house. I was lovely and slim and enjoying wearing the fashions of the day. I am pretty miserable now.

WishIwasyounger Sat 19-Oct-19 15:05:15

Same here KatyK. I was in my 20's, fresh out of Uni and enjoying working in the Outdoors and having lots of boy friends. Boy did we have some wild parties.
I'm still slim but can't afford fashion nowadays, and anyway it seems so frivolous now.

shysal Sat 19-Oct-19 15:09:51

The 1970s were my happiest years, when my children were young. I was healthy and happy and enjoyed my work.

aggie Sat 19-Oct-19 15:16:08

I was stay at home mum to infants and teens , not a good combo

crazyH Sat 19-Oct-19 15:17:54

I was happiest, surprisingly, during my teens. Happy home life with my parents .....spoilt rotten being youngest (of 9), great school and Uni life. Was quite pretty then and got lot of attention. Despite that, got a Master's.
Got married....all downhill after that, except for my 3 lovely children and grandchildren...

Blinko Sat 19-Oct-19 15:27:42

I think I'm at my happiest right now. Kids grown and flown the nest and in good marriages; GKs all thriving. OH and myself are reasonably healthy, just a few aches and pains now and then. We have enough money to live on and take holidays with something in the bank for emergencies.

Long may it last....

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 19-Oct-19 15:31:01

I wasn't particularly happy in 1978. It was two years before I met my husband - I thought I'd never find 'the one.'

I'd say that things were best for us in 2008 - I had the three things which are meant to matter - someone to love (DH), something to do (job and hobbies) and something to look forward to (learning to drive). I was 53.

The real ghastliness of DH's rotten diagnosis was yet to come and was something which barely crossed our minds.

WOODMOUSE49 Sat 19-Oct-19 15:38:01

Happiest now. But it's not consistent.

I believe happiest moments are are just that. Moments . Levels of happiness vary.

Can't say I've had any lengthy periods of unhappiness for 25 years.

1978 ! - I was slimmer and fitter. But not happy. Two children 6 and 8. Working part time. No money. Rented house. Marriage starting to go downhill due to emotional abuse.

Calendargirl Sat 19-Oct-19 15:45:18

WOODMOUSE49

I agree with you. Happiness is a fleeting thing, not consistent.
It can be as simple as watching your family tucking into a cake you’ve made, or as major as being told someone you love is not going to die.

We all have snatches of happiness throughout our lives, interspersed with great sadness. It’s life.

Scribbles Sat 19-Oct-19 15:54:55

I was stressed but happy in 1978. We'd just bought our first house and money was tight; demanding job, 4 year old child who could be... er, challenging at times but there was always something to look forward to and the happiness of being loved.

I'm equally happy now and much less stressed. Reasonable health for OH and I; no real money worries; living in a home I love; AC settled and content with her life; still in a loving partnership after all the ups and downs and still feeling there's plenty to look forward to.

Sara65 Sat 19-Oct-19 16:24:38

My second child was born in 1978, we’d just bought our first house, money was extremely tight, no phone, only heating a portable gas fire, no money for clothes or socialising, but always hopeful, and full of optimism . I think that’s one of the worst things about getting older, you realise that any change is unlikely to be for the better.

Oopsminty Sat 19-Oct-19 16:28:28

I was ridiculously happy in 1978.

I was 17. I'd gone on my first holiday abroad without parents.

Met the most gorgeous Spanish waiter and ended up moving there.

The gorgeous environment, weather, discos, it was just wonderful

My parents weren't hugely impressed but they got over it

Grandma70s Sat 19-Oct-19 16:31:03

I too was happiest in the 1970s. I had two young children and stayed at home to look after them. Loved it, apart from one child’s spectacular tantrums, which I never learnt to cope with.

Greenfinch Sat 19-Oct-19 17:00:41

I agree with shysal and others who are saying the same thing.

kittylester Sat 19-Oct-19 17:08:01

I agree with blinko. I'm happiest now but I tend to be a pollyanna so would say that whenever you asked me.

Beechnut Sat 19-Oct-19 18:04:18

There have been several times but one was walking down the aisle with my lovely dad to be met and exchange vows with my soon to be husband ?

GrandmaJan Sat 19-Oct-19 18:10:26

I can’t actually pin point one particular time I was the happiest because there have been a few. 1970 was when I started my nurse training when Matron ruled and we HAD to live in the Nurses Home. They were wonderful days as was my wedding and birth of the both my children then my grandchildren.

Gonegirl Sat 19-Oct-19 18:13:57

I was very happy in '78.

I had my two girls, 10 and 6, and the birth of my son, although I obviously didn't know it then, was just around the corner (three years away). We were living in our house we built ourselves, everything was still new and fresh. And I was young. Fit and healthy.

Happier every day than I am now, but I wouldn't go back. I am just glad my grandsons are now around, even if I don't see them quite as much these days.

varian Sat 19-Oct-19 19:12:27

I was perfectly happy, as I think many folk were, in 2015 before we'd ever heard of this appalling brexit nonsense.

WOODMOUSE49 Sat 19-Oct-19 20:15:45

It's being so emotional reading others happy moments throughout their lives along with the sad ones.

I suppose this thread being on the news and politics forum, was because it referred to a news item link.

I hope Varian there is a little tiny personal moment of happiness in your life away from politics.

varian Sat 19-Oct-19 20:49:01

Many happy moments which we treasure but there has been a shadow over the last three and a half years for the 50 million of UK residents who never voted for brexit.

WOODMOUSE49 Sat 19-Oct-19 22:52:43

varian Population of UK in 2016 was 65 million according to Office of National Statistics. You say: 50 million of these never voted !

grannyqueenie Sat 19-Oct-19 23:01:37

I was happy in 1978 as after a difficult pregnancy I had twins! After losing both my much loved dad and my mil in 1977, it was the start of a much happier year for us, even though I was exhausted every single day!

LondonGranny Sat 19-Oct-19 23:04:13

The actual figures are 17,410,742 Leave voters, 48,629,095 who didn't vote, were too young or unable to vote eg in prison or a mental institution or voted remain. (govt figures).