When was the last time you were truly happy?

[Bellabluea]

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.

lljkk great economic thread on twitter thanks! - took me a while to get all of it as am bear of little brain and kept thinking of the pretzels themselves. Hamsters great in slow motion!

Some outstanding competitive misery on this thread, must say.

I have moments happiness most days, but it's been a while since I've felt continuously happy for any sustained length of time. Did I ever, or am I looking back with rose-tinted glasses, and forgetting the times, even moments of stress? I try to stay positive and enjoy the small things onife. I note them, either in words or photos - just for myself.

Tonight after reading to my 6 year old at bed time he gave me a cuddle. He gives such perfect cuddles.

I'm not unhappy now, but the last time I was consciously totally happy would have been the end of summer. We had a good summer, and at the end of it we went away for a few days with friends. It felt like the pandemic was almost over, a vaccine was imminent, and things would gradually get better. We were all having fun and full of optimism.

I've had plenty of good times since, but my optimism was misplaced so I'm more cautious now.

I'm not sure everyone is really talking about the same thing. I feel happiness, joy, laughter, optimism and gratitude very regularly, daily really.

But true contentment, a feeling that everything is all good, not a care in the world at that moment and you can just relax - that for me has gone. I remember it from my childhood as I felt it regularly until I was in my 20s really.

We managed a night out in between lock downs. Me, and five friends in a pub garden (on a cold autumn night!) till 10pm. We drank, we talked, we laughed a lot.

Other than that, we had a few days on the coast over the summer. It wasn't great weather, it was windy, and there were enormous waves lashing the shore. The DC and I ran in and out of them, laughing like drains. Were completely drenched by the time we got back to the holiday cottage - but so, so happy.

Last week in the park and the woods with my kids. I forgot about all my worries and stresses, I even forgot about the pandemic temporarily for a good 45mins. I didn't look at my phone for over 2 hours. It was awesome.

I got an interview for an Ed psych doctorate and danced around the kitchen... then realised I haven’t had that feeling of joy for ages!

This time last year when I was on holiday in Lanzarote. Didnt know what was round the corner.

REALLY gloriously happy was 2012.

I’m happy at the moment, always feel much happier if I ‘ feel ‘ I’ve had a nice sleep .

End of February last year. I was on holiday with my daughter in India and we made friends with people on our tour and I laughed for a fortnight. hadn’t laughed so much in years. I was relaxed and my husband wasn’t there to keep asking me ‘why’ I had done this or that .