To ask what makes you feel at your happiest, most real "you"?

[whereiscaroline]

During my younger years I had a really strong sense of self. Worked hard, dreams of climbing the corporate ladder, was happy in my job and lived for nights out at the weekend - getting "merry" and clubbing with friends.

Now I'm older, friends are settled, corporate world is horrendous and I feel a bit lost. I don't really know what makes me happy anymore so I'm hoping that IANBU to look to MN for some inspiration please

When do you feel properly happy, like you're being the real, true version of yourself?

Wandering around a shopping centre (one of the nice big ones in London) wearing an Evanescence t-shirt, long black skirt, and combat boots, far too much jewellery, some outrageous make up, listening to music and lost in my own little bubble. I generally carry around a stuffed cat, and have a notebook and pen on me so I can do some writing in a café. While I'm there I will go into every shop that sells make up for a nice long browse, and hopefully buy something lovely. When I go to London I always go through King's Cross, which makes me smile because of Harry Potter, and sometimes I'll go and mooch round the Platform 9 and 3/4 shop. I find something wonderful about going to London, I can dress however I want and no one cares, it's so freeing. And even though it's full of people I can be alone.

Talking to strangers! I feel like when I you meet someone in a bar (long time since that's happened!) or just get chatting in the queue for the ladies or on the bus, you can be so spontaneously authenti, and it feels lovely to make contact without any agenda or obligation.

Oh god yes, I love these little moments of connection.

This thread is reminding me of all the little joys in life, it’s lovely

Tap dancing class! I love it

Snuggles with the toddler
Getting ahead at work
Family days out
Nice food and wine on the couch
Going to gigs
A rare night out where I can be ‘old me’

Oh and eating well, nourishing my body with healthy food and exercise

Travelling
The TV listings on a Tuesday
When my little boy tells me he loves me
Spending time with my sisters

Being in nature especially near the sea.
Walking around London.
Reading a great book.
Spending time with friends.
Being with DS.

Walking my dog (as I'm doing now)
A nice pint in a sunny beer garden or a proper pub
Sweating my tits off in a Group Fight class
Messing about on the beach with DD

At work, sometimes. Every now and then I help someone connect the dots. Or being told 'she's refusing everything today' and managing to get the person involved to have at least a drink and a snack.

Otherwise, at book club, or sinking into my bed, alone. Not always a good version of myself but it does feel very me.

When I'm either in my friends house surrounded by the people who love and understand me, or when they're in mine, sharing a joint and putting the world to rights till the sun comes up. They say home is not where you come from but where you are understood and I think that's very true.

I haven't done that since I found out I was pregnant and I don't half miss it!

Otherwise when I'm geeking out over comic books/games /dinosaurs, or doing something creative whether that be painting, drawing, sewing crocheting or something else entirely.

Also when I'm head to toe in black with my big black boots on and have something with very loud guitars playing, very loudly. This one happens almost every day (though I use headphones now as I'm not an inconsiderate neighbour and our walls are paper thin). It makes me very very happy (and makes the drudgery of housework a bit less intolerable)

Great thread!

I think there are different bits of me so depending on my mood:

Getting that hygge feeling in a cosy pub drinking wine with old friends laughing about nothing in particular and feeling cosy and completely at ease.

Running well on my own, headphones on to some euphoric dance music, beaut day.

Solo night in, cashmere socks, blanket, crap food, crime thriller box set. Or a book.

Travelling independent style. I'm an introvert but I've never felt more comfortable talking to strangers and striking up friendships than when winging it in Asia.

Wandering round beach/nat trust/coffee shop with my lovely mum.

I actually feel like you a little bit - I think for me it's a lot to do with feeling other people get you. If you have no close friends or family nearby that give you that feeling it can be hard.

Having my nails nice
Being at home, keeping it lovely
Fresh flowers
Knowing I'm pretty good at my job
Walking my kids to school, they're all happy and energetic it's heartening
My bath is huge and wonderful
Music in my car
I have fun friends
Good food and chatting with my DH

Walking my dog, preferably on a lovely sunny day!
At home, slobbing on the sofa in pj's after a bath.

I find something wonderful about going to London, I can dress however I want and no one cares, it's so freeing.
*
Totally agree with this! Everyone is sort of free to just be themselves, or at least that's how it feels to me as an occasional visitor.*

Cuddles with DS. He's my number one joy (when he's not being a PITA )

Visiting London. I always feel in my heart like it's the place where I'm meant to be. I could never afford to live there but I'm only 90 minutes away by train and have friends living there so I try and visit often.

Music. Listening to my favourite songs brings out so much joy in me.

Writing. I love it and it's been my passion since I was young.

When I actually achieve things. I’ve been working on myself recently, I’ve felt like me as I’ve taken life by the balls.

Today, I felt more like me than I have in years, DH and I are having problems, instead of feeding into his BS I put my shoes on. Went to the car, put on some old Eminem, and went for a drive. It took me 20 minutes but I found myself smiling, thinking I’m no longer allowing that fucker to be a prisoner to him, to our relationship.

I feel empowered! :-)

Being near the sea, ideally an empty beach
Dog walks
Being at home
Baking and cooking for people
Watching Fireworks
Reading a good book
Drinking cocktails
Curled up on sofa watching a good film or trashy telly

Being outside...
When it's warm enough to have that first morning coffee in the garden
Playing with the kids in the garden or park
Sitting round a campfire with a glass of wine or a hot chocolate
Being on the beach, whatever the weather
Paddling in the sea

Reading.
Writing.
Being out in nature/by the sea

What a great question, OP.

Walking by the Thames, especially on the South Bank
Travelling on trains
Doing silly voices for my daughter's toys and making her (or my DH) laugh
Cleaning the kitchen with the radio on
Drinking Prosecco on a Friday night with DH
Coffee in bed
Going to the theatre
Working on a spreadsheet
Putting on my make-up

Ooh and being in the sea! Any water in general. But especially the sea.

Great thread!

• yoga
• enjoying a book. Not just reading one, but really getting into it, so that I can’t put it down
• holidays

Mine is two opposite things really. One, is being at home being a Mum and wife. Snuggling with my babies, putting them to bed and having dinner with DH in our lovely home. I feel nice and complete then. Like I've got everything I've always wanted.

On the opposite end of the scale also I love it when I get a rare night out with my oldest friends maybe twice or three times a year. We get dressed up, we drink lots of wine, we gossip like the teenagers we were 15 years ago and we dance. Perfect.