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Original poster

When was the last time you were truly happy?

88 replies

Bellabluea · 07/02/2021 06:02

Just that feeling of utter contentment and joy.
I just realised that I haven’t felt it in years.
That’s sad isn’t it?
I’m not depressed as such. Just empty and not happy.
I think I felt it when my youngest were babies. We had no time to ourselves and I barely slept but they just brought me so much joy.
I can’t image having that feeling again.

OP posts:
EssentialHummus · 07/02/2021 09:35

This morning. DD(3) woke up late so I’d had my coffee and read the paper. She called me to come get her and we ended up snuggled in her bed together just giggling at each other.

nearlynermal · 07/02/2021 09:37

I remember an acquaintance saying about 10 years back: "I'm not happy but I'm content." Which I didn't really understand at the time and thought sounded a bit wrong. But I realise now that happy is a high bar.

nearlynermal · 07/02/2021 09:39

Then again, when my big tabby cat starts purring like a steam train and head butts me so hard my glasses go skew, that's pretty good.

Toorapid · 07/02/2021 09:41

Christmas Dinner. We'd just found out DH's cancer had spread, extended family that should have been there weren't, teens had missed seeing friends in the lead up, there were lots of things to be unhappy about but in that moment, the teens and I having produced a lovely meal together and laughing round the table with good food, life was perfect. SmileSad

DDIJ · 07/02/2021 09:41

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Ragwort · 07/02/2021 09:42

I can feel genuine happiness and contentment most days ... yes I am utterly bored of this dull, relentless way of life but I try to focus on the positive things that are happening. My DS is at Uni and having a challenging time like most students but last night he told me had picked up his interest in chess (initially he said 'I've got the chess bug' and I was worried thinking he'd said he'd got a 'chest bug' so I was suggesting getting a Covid test Grin). He sounded so excited ... he'd got in touch with a friend who plays chess, emailed one of his tutors who he knew was a chess player, got invited to a chess club - post Covid of course.

Little things like that make me happy ... he's obviously going to have a difficult time finding a job after graduating etc but his joy in finding a new hobby (& doing some about it) really inspired me and yes, made me feel 'happier'.

All from watching the Queen's Gambit on Netflix!

daisydalrymple · 07/02/2021 09:43

Toorapid ❤️❤️❤️

Xerochrysum · 07/02/2021 09:45

I just had a very happy moment. I saw the robin through the kitchen window and went out to feed him. As soon as I put some bird food on the ground and I was standing still in a snow, he just came few inches from my foot. He's new, we had a robin that used to come into my house but they are gone. He's getting there. Bliss. Smile

Chicchicchicchiclana · 07/02/2021 09:48

This morning when I woke up at 8 having slept all through the night, which is an extremely rare thing for me.

I think people generally have too high expectations re. happiness. Happiness is little interludes in day to day life, not some Instagrammable state of permanent bliss.

spagbog5 · 07/02/2021 09:49

I was just thinking earlier that I feel like that right now as we are all happy, healthy and content.
Yes life is really tough right now and we lost a very close family member to covid last year and we're all very ill with covid over Christmas but we are trying really hard to be grateful for what we have.
Toast , fresh coffee and a new mattress I'm enjoying while Mumsnetting have definitely helped.

TheDaydreamBelievers · 07/02/2021 10:11

This morning, cuddled up in bed having a Sunday morning lie in, reading bits of funny mumsnet threads out loud

HeronLanyon · 07/02/2021 10:17

@Xerochrysum

I just had a very happy moment. I saw the robin through the kitchen window and went out to feed him. As soon as I put some bird food on the ground and I was standing still in a snow, he just came few inches from my foot. He's new, we had a robin that used to come into my house but they are gone. He's getting there. Bliss. Smile
Heaven ! Saw three foxes being rowdy on my street in the dead of night - playing barking running and pouncing barking all the while - they then trotted off to a big square. Joy. Reminded fox mating is nearly upon us with those blood curdling sounds. Confused
ilovebagpuss · 07/02/2021 10:23

3 years ago still had my mum kids were younger and cuddly. On holiday in Cornwall after a day of good weather and bodyboarding.
Since I lost my mum the natural grief and then Covid and more difficulties with young teens mental health there hasn’t been a lot to be happy about.
Certainly there have been happy moments and content moments but not that same level of easy joy.
I hope it comes back one day.

Ragwort · 07/02/2021 10:24

Chicci yes, I think that's a good point, we can't expect to be 'happy' all the time ... a general state of contentment is what I aim for you. And if you don't have periods of 'unhappiness' then how do you judge 'happiness'.

And, trite as it sounds, trying to find the joy in 'little things' and counting your blessings does help.

RosieLemonade · 07/02/2021 10:26

On Friday. I went to pick DD up from my mum's and my mum had confirmation that a problem had been solved. This problem had been causing all of us sleepless nights for weeks. I had one very small glass of champagne with her and my sister (lived there) in the garden and felt so happy and relieved and NORMAL.

Bangable · 07/02/2021 10:28

I feel happiness every day on some level. My DH and my dogs make me happy, I felt happy yesterday during my run, it was a glorious day and the few people I passed all said hello in a cheery way, it lifted my spirits, I also felt happy after my run, I had beaten by PB. Fridays make me happy as I have two days of spending all my time with DH and the dogs, not glued to my laptop and distracted like in the week, we have a lot of fun together, that makes me v happy. Waking up to my lovely DH and my sweet dogs makes me extremely happy, they make me feel v loved Smile

My gran was a v positive happy person and that’s where I must get it from as my parents are total pessimists and doom merchants!

RuggeryBuggery · 07/02/2021 10:29

I think for me it’s moments of joy
I don’t think life is like a rollercoaster where it’s all up and down
I think it’s more like multiple train tracks where at any one time some things might be going well and others not
I think issues around overeating, lack of control and being heavier than I would like to be have sort of blighted a lot of my life since puberty which is a bit sad.
I’ve had euphoria in times of weight loss but always tinged with the fear about whether it will last.

Moments of happiness and contentment have come from being in the sun on holiday, or looking at a gorgeous view, being with good friends, and times with the kids.
With all 3 I found I got a lot of pure joy from them when they were babies after the new board stage, so sort of 4 months to about 18 months before the toddler tantrums set in!

Chickoletta · 07/02/2021 10:39

Right now is pretty good. Lazy Sunday morning, the DCs are in bed with me ‘snuggling like we used to’ by their own request, watching Octonauts, the kitten is rampaging around the room around and over us, I’m mumsnetting with a good coffee. DH is working but that gives us more room in the bed! Off to my mum’s (we’re a bubble) for Sunday lunch in a bit and she’s having her jab later today.

The working week is pretty stressful at the moment as I’m teaching all day whilst DCs are home schooling, but we’ve got so much to be grateful for.

speaksofty · 07/02/2021 10:44

I feel happiness every day at some point, I enjoy time with the children, or seeing a bird using my bird feeder, music, a kind message from a friend. There is mostly a stream of small things that make me happy during the day.

But the feeling of being carefree has completely gone for now. That eludes me. I don't think it is even possible to be carefree in a pandemic if you and love and care for the people around you.

My last happy moment was an hour ago.
My last carefree time was just before China announced to the world that a case of coronavirus was moving from person to person - so early December 2019 was the last time I slept soundly and felt carefree. At that point we were enjoying the beginnings of christmas with so much to look forward to....

roundtable · 07/02/2021 10:45

This morning. DH is really making me laugh, the DC have squashed into bed and there's a sprinkling of snow.

During the week is hell at the moment, both of us trying to work from home and home school 2 primary aged children. It's made me really appreciate the weekends even though we both have to fit in a bit of work then too.

halfhope · 07/02/2021 10:48

I think gratitude is the key to contentment.

IdblowJonSnow · 07/02/2021 10:49

Hmm. Maybe last summer on holiday. We were in the uk but the weather was hot and beautiful. I felt peaceful.

Fairyliz · 07/02/2021 10:52

When I retired. I skipped out of that office with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.
It was that feeling like the start of the summer holidays when you were a child, except this is not just for six weeks.

oohmama · 07/02/2021 10:53

When I was 17/18

RomeoLikedCapuletGirls · 07/02/2021 10:55

When my child was young and not the moody nasty teen he is now.