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Original poster

Are you happy with your life?

26 replies

housewifeoflittleitaly · 30/01/2019 01:10

At work to day a close colleague asked me this question in between wrk ideas. I had to pause to think of the answer and admitted that I am probably about 35% happy with life. She also said that she was about 50% happy with life.

It for me thinking is this normal? Is anyone really 100% happy?!

I’ve suffered with severe depression for years so it’s hard to judge.

OP posts:
Auntiepatricia · 30/01/2019 01:14

I’d say I’m 98% happy. I have everything I want and dreamed of. I remove 2% because my DH works too hard so I worry about him. I’d fix that if I could.

Zacksnan · 30/01/2019 01:15

Not right now. Health reasons. But working to get there.

RomanticFatigue · 30/01/2019 01:16

Nope.

Walnutwhipster · 30/01/2019 01:37

I'm happy in respect of DH, children, family and friends. We have a great house (no mortgage) in a desirable area with fantastic schools. I drive a new fairly expensive car and have no money worries, nor will I ever have. The fly in the ointment is that I'm seriously ill and about to face yet another major surgery, which I'm too weak to have at the moment. I've had an NJ tube put in to try to build my strength up for what lies ahead. I'm not scared of dying. What taints my happiness is what it would do to those I love and leaving them behind.

AGHHHH · 30/01/2019 01:56

No

Original poster
housewifeoflittleitaly · 30/01/2019 05:52

Yep things are never really as they seem.

On the surface I’ve nothing to be unhappy with I suppose but I do wish things were dbetter. I worry a lot about never getting on the property ladder, where will we live when we’re old & also about my kids in general.

I suppose I should be more grateful & content but life isn’t linear.

Walnut sorry to hear that, again not all is as it may seem. I wish you all the best.

OP posts:
Ivegotthree · 30/01/2019 05:57

I was thinking about this yesterday, wondering what my younger self would have thought had she known how my life would turn out.

I think I'm very happy with my life. One child with SEN is tough but not as tough as I'd have imagined. And they bring so much unexpected happiness - something you could never explain to someone who's not in the same boat.

Everything else is great and way more than I'd have anticipated. Family, home, DC.

Things that make me happy:
DC/family life
Running
Work
Friends
Going to church/school and feeling part of a community
Earning money - it makes me feel less scared of life to know I have a good job and can pay for things if they break

Ivegotthree · 30/01/2019 05:58

Oh Walnut poor you and very good luck

EveryoneLovesDogs · 30/01/2019 07:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EssentialHummus · 30/01/2019 07:24

By my nature I’m prone to nitpicking/overthinking but yes, generally happy. Toddler DD and I are forming a good relationship, DH happy, work generally fine, we’re lucky to have a high income, a nice circle of friends and community stuff on the go. I’ve gotten to a stage where I care much less about brands/material things and that has done wonders for my happiness.

BrieAndOatcakes · 30/01/2019 07:34

Yes I am, though I get a lot if migraines and find interactions with others difficult (close family excepted) as I have BPD (and I could do with more sleep!). That aside I have a pretty good outlook on life (not caring about material stuff) and am grateful for the good things in my life - I'm mostly healthy (as are my DH/DC), not stuck in a boring job and have a great marriage.

madcatladyforever · 30/01/2019 07:37

I think like most people I have great times and not so good times. Currently going through not such a content time but I'm working towards making this a good and happy year by making an effort to see friends and family.
I think like anything you have to work at it and make plans to look forward to.

Elllicam · 30/01/2019 07:42

I’m probably about 75/80%. Love my kids, DH, family, home. My job is ok, my baby has been sick with the cold for almost 4 weeks and I have mastitis so that brings it down.

Anon1325 · 30/01/2019 08:08

No, I am not happy with my life. I have moments of true happiness, and people who know me now say I'm talkative and outgoing. I laugh at silly things all the time, so I appear happy.
What most people don't know is, I was physically and emotionally abused by my parents, repeatedly raped by my sports coach as a teenager, married my husband not because it was a great relationship, but because he was an escape route for me. Set up an entirely new life on the other side of the world, which on the surface looked wonderful, but my marriage was emotionally and financially abusive. Had two awful pregnancies where I vomited up to 4 times a day for the entire duration. My oldest has autism and is physically violent, been down every route we can go down to get help, but repeatedly told "There's nothing you can do about it". I've been burgled twice, but they got away with it, while I ended up with a criminal record when I scratched another car in a carpark.
I'm now divorced and feel very, very alone.
I'm not happy, but I'm strong. One day I'm going to scream so loudly the entire world will hear me.

ShatnersWig · 30/01/2019 08:24

There are times when I am happy, yes. But generally, taking everything altogether, it's a definite no from me.

Dowser · 30/01/2019 08:53

Oh walnut...so very sorry to hear this.

Yes I’m happy with my life..
I have a good life..all the trimmings are in place to make it so. Lovely home, a holiday home, good husband, great children and grandchildren, good friends, healthy bank account
But I have health issues and so does my husband ...so it’s an 80 per cent from me

Good robust Health is like winning the lottery.

noego · 30/01/2019 08:58

Yep 1000%

Ifangyow · 30/01/2019 09:00

Yes, definitely 100%. I wouldn't change a thing.

Mitsouko67 · 30/01/2019 09:06

Depression and illness very tough.

Yes, I am. It's not perfect or easy but I feel good in myself and able to cope with challenges. Also grateful for all the good things in place.

Counselling and life coaching helped me at a difficult time.

whitetoblerone · 30/01/2019 09:18

I am the happiest I've been for a few years but I'm not 100% happy. I have my gorgeous 7 month old DS but I live everyday grieving for his older brother who died shortly after birth a couple of years ago. I don't want to go back to work in a few months because I want to spend time with DS. Could always do with more money but we're comfortable enough and I'm currently planning my wedding, so I'm happy with that.

People probably think I'm really happy with my life, but there's always a tinge of sadness there for me. I am happy but I have unhappiness there too.

Megan2018 · 30/01/2019 09:19

Yes, about 90-95% happy I think.

Good job, good marriage, lovely house.
Currently early pg with first DC at 40 - so if that turns out ok then that will be a bonus!

Only thing that wrangles is money - we are always just short of what we need - always counting down to payday. We have had an expensive 6 years with 2 house moves and just can't seem to get the right side of things to be able to save substantially again. We pay all the bills without issue, we have some luxuries so we aren't poor - but we are just not quite as on top of things as I'd like and being unexpectedly pregnant is not going to help that! We can scrape through maternity with the savings we have and then are going to have some rough years with childcare so I know there is no end in sight for it for a long time to come. This is a cause of some stress.

But like I say - we are better off than most I know. Our mortgage is low and house is only 50% mortgaged so it's not like we are in debt up to our eyeballs or anything. We have a small amount on a 0% interest card (circa £3k). I also have my house from when I was single which is rented out and a generous final salary pension. So we have assets, not much debt, we just are short of cash!

And I lack time to ride - I miss competing, horse is semi retired and I know I won't be able to have another for a long time/ever. This is also sad, it is a huge part of who I am and I am having to let it go to be a Mum.

EngagedAgain · 30/01/2019 09:30

Sympathies to those of you who have suffered losses, illness and been through a terrible time. I'm not entirely happy, but am trying to change that. It's hard to change either old habits, or get over things that have happened to us. The more that has gone wrong the longer it takes it seems?

ComtesseDeSpair · 30/01/2019 09:34

Yes, more than 95% happy. I have a job I love, a secure home, no financial worries, excellent health, some great friends and family, I live in one of the greatest cities in earth and it makes me happy every day. But ultimately I think one of the reasons I’m so happy is that I’m not at all invested in what strangers or society at large think about me, my lifestyle choices, my possessions, my values and so on. I know so many people who put themselves through so much angst and worry and grief in an attempt to have others like them / think well of them / envy them and, well, I’m really just not bothered. I do most of what I want to do most of the time and it makes for a rather enjoyable life.

Frosty66611 · 30/01/2019 09:36

I’m very happy with certain aspects such as my relationship with my partner and my family. Not so happy with my health, finances or work so i’d say I’m about 30% happy (which isn’t great Sad)

whitetoblerone · 30/01/2019 09:37

@EngagedAgain I don't think you 'get over' things that happen to you, depending on what they are I suppose, you just learn to move forward. It takes longer to live with things as part of your life the worse or more you deal with.

Hope you can change what you want to, I think there's always the possibility of making yourself happier, no matter what 😌