Research on happiest years of life

My best years have been since I married DH 28 years ago. I'm now 67. 2nd time round for both of us. Lots of ups and downs with health issues but I am so fortunate to have a life with him. Love him to bits and amazingly he feels the same way. My heart goes out to all feeling low. I certainly don't feel smug but just very, very lucky to still have him.

Have tried to look up who did this research and can’t find it on line. It must have been in the newspaper as DH read it as well.

Older research does say happiness is U shaped, a research done by London school of Economics of 23,000 people in Germany.

I will never get over empty nest syndrome I don’t think
I’m not 70 yet, but some of our friends of that age have had significant health problems or sudden bereavement.

I didn’t have easy teenage years, and I suppose I am a glass half empty person, though I hate to admit it. I do try to count my blessings everyday, but I think I look back with fondness to child rearing days, and I am a bit afraid of the future.

I should learn to live in the moment more. Am starting a mindfulness course soon.

I loved being 17! first year of A Levels with all the privileges and freedom we got in the Sixth form, and learning to drive which meant more freedom!
I also loved my mid to late 30’s as that was when I started to feel like an actual adult! As well as my children thriving as they got older Also my career bloomed at this time, and I finally felt that all the hard work was paying off!
My 50’s (so far) have been a mixed bag with serious illness and after effects necessitating a complete change of life pace. However I have got 6 delightful GC from my 3 DD and this naturally makes me super happy.
I don’t really look forward to my 60’s or beyond as I worry about my health and the creaking pains of getting older? but maybe these decades will be better than I think?

Never thought about it before, though I have occasionally wondered whether I would have done something differently. Age 15 I was at school. I don't think the question of happiness came into it, and certainly not when it was my turn to clean the brass stair rods! At 15 we had no electricity, no central heating and no hot water - and only an outside toilet. It was not the back and beyond either. It was South East London. We did have a lovely park and with the Maritime Museum and Queen's House nearby we had plenty to do. Nowadays you have to pay an entrance fee, but in those days we had free run of the place for free. It was not so fancy as it is now, but for us it was an education in the museum, where we pressed our faces on a glass cabinet with Nelson's breaches on view with a bullet hole! There were attendants but they never stopped us. I can remember it all and I suppose the freedom then was something to savour now.

Seventies nowadays are fraught with problems, not least of which is everyone watching for signs of dementia. One outpatients visit had me being asked several times for my address and DOB. Now it might well be that they are being sure they have the right person but it was a ridiculous number of times. When I got in to see the consultant it all started again. I told him that I was tempted to say to my friend with me: 'When was I born?' I told them how annoying it was. They ask the sort of questions usually reserved for head injury cases. To keep asking what the day is, who so-and-so is in government etc, is making life a misery for many people, and I suspect that when the age for collection a state pension is increased to 70 the questions will be fewer. I am bombarded with adds on TV for money for the Alzheimer's Charity and they depict patients who are very old and obviously suffering from senile dementia which is a completely different disease to Alzheimer's but that sounds better. The good doctor described a disease afflicting middle age with different characteristics. I do not think there will ever be enough money to find a cure for it. Water Aid has been begging for money for over 50 years and still half the world is without proper drinking water, so no, I do not think anyone is laughing at 70+ unless they find something very interesting to amuse themselves with.

I am always saying this age is just a number I am 73 and I make the most of each day and try and stay positive about things. I lost m son 11 years ago and thought my life would never be the same again, which it isn’t but I knew that I had to carry on for my dd and gd. And I know my son wouldn’t want me to give up.

I wish I could cheer up and be happier. But I can't.

And I am ashamed of myself for it.

I've loved every one of my not inconsiderable years and wouldn't trade any of them ... mind you, it would be nice to have the body of a 15-year old again (ho ho)!

Nothing to be ashamed of Gonegirl

My best years were from 18 to 26 I sudied Nursing and loved my professional life.From 26-70 a good life and now, way over 70 enjoying things as much, and thankful for good health and a lovely famiy around me. Not so for my Husband who recently became 70 and suffered a heart attack, I must add he is fine and not looking back. Such different wealth we have.

I am laughing at 70+ lizzie because I am lucky enough to have young DGC and they can be amusing and sometimes quite hilarious.
But I appreciate that not everyone is as fortunate.

Gonegirl

I know what you mean about the water issue, llizzie - if gas or oil was found they would soon be installing pipelines. We can go to Space but cannot get sufficient water to those who need it, despite the £ billions poured in.

I liked being 15, as I felt I would soon be grown-up. I loved school and never worried about exams, which always went well.

I haven't got to 70 yet, but am really enjoying being 67 and retired, but I can't really think that 70 is the best year of ones life.

Mid-thirties sounds more like it to me.

As a sideline re age. I visited my dentist recently - at 71 I still have my own teeth. I had to fill in an updated medication questionnaire. There was no box appropriate for me to tick e.g. ‘on no medication’. He said, quite pointedly, you haven’t ticked any boxes, surely there is at least one’. Well, I was speechless - unusual for me. I am not on any meds - is that unusual for a 71 yr old ?

Thank you Mawbroon and Jalima.

gonegirl from me too.

I can see something in the happy 15/70 scenario.
At 15 I was very happy go lucky, and now feel content and don’t worry overmuch about anything, as I used to do.

Terrible state at 14-18! was happy in my 20s and 30s while the children were little but I’m definitely most content now in my 60s, divorced but with another partner, DD and 2 gorgeous GC 50 minutes away. The only dark side is that my son and other 2 GC live in NZ. I mourned for a few years when he first went but have come to terms now and try to enjoy my own life. You must when there’s potentially only 20 years left!

At 15 I felt that no boy would ever look at me, but at 16 I met the boy I would later marry. I agree with Jenpax, I loved being 17 and for exactly the same reasons.
I quite enjoyed being 27-33 when I was at home with my 'babies' but money was always a worry. After that my parents' health gave me a lot of problems.
I can't comment about being 70 yet. I have mixed feelings about turning 70 as that was the age my Mum was when she died. I would vote my 60th year as the best so far- so lovely to retire and have time to do the things I wanted.

I will be 70 soon and I plan to make it a happy year ( touch wood). I have had ups and downs like everyone else but at this moment in time my family is ok and OH and I are reasonably fit and well.
While that continues I am happy as I know it won’t last for ever.

Thank you Ja. Take no notice of me. I'm probably just tired.

Gonegirl and Artols

Thanks dorcas.

I am 71 and genuinely really happy. I have been married for nearly 51 years and we are both aware of how lucky we are to still have each other. Our children and grandchildren all seem well and happy. We both still do some work and I have lots of friends via different interest groups. Financially we have to be careful but we love our home and learning more about gardening (my latest passion, with my husband doing the heavy work).
Healthwise I have my challenges and arthritis has become
a bit of a problem that I would love to know how to get rid of but I try to keep moving and go to aquarobics and Pilates. I hope this does not sound smug, I don't ever take anything for granted, I feel really lucky and grateful for the life I have but I know it could all change in a moment.

llizzie2
There are breaches and breeches. Google is your friend.