AIBU to ask what those of you who are happy with your lives do?

[Elle7rose]

Just that really...

• What job do you have?
• Do you have a partner/DH/kids?
• Are you financially very well off?
• Are you in good health?

• Or is it just an attitude?

Married teacher with kids. We can pay the bills but no money for holidays.
It's about lowering your expectations of what happy is. Make the most of what you have. Plan things to look forward to: a night out with friends, swimming with the kids, a romantic dinner in with OH. Life is fleeting and it's the little moments that being happiness. Definitely helps that I love my job and find it rewarding

• What job do you have

Sales in packaging manufacturing )

• Do you have a partner/DH/kids?

Fiancee, bought a house together a few months ago!

• Are you financially very well off?

We currently bring home around 3250. Our mortgage and expenses are about £950 so I would say we are very comfortable, but not rich! I'll be off on maternity soon (4 months) and we aren't sure if I will be going back to work or not (part time) But, we will still be comfortable on my DHs wage if I dont.

• Are you in good health?

Yes :)

• Or is it just an attitude?

we've worked hard for what we have, promotions, mortgage etc.. some of it must be a positive attitude, but it also took hardworking and dedication to get to where we are now x

Should of added that yes, I am very happy x

Work in finance from home plenty of money but most importantly my kids, husband and I are in good health. Good health is everything. To me, anyway.

I'd answer the questions, but I don't see the point - I've been happy all my life, so I don't think my present circumstances are relevant!

I work in finance, an office job with a long commute (the commute is my down time!).
I have a DH and young DC.
Financially we don't have much savings, but we do have two decent full time salaries coming in each month, so can easily afford everything we need, basically cash rich, time poor.

But most importantly we are all in good health and happy.

I work in sales negotiations for a developer, I have been with my husband for 12 years and married for 9 and currently expecting our first little one, we are financially stable, mortgage free and have a good lifestyle and general good health (pregnancy doesn't agree with me) but usually i consider my very healthy.

However I do believe being happy in life is a lot to do with your attitude, I stay positive and don't allow the day to day stresses get to me. My attitude towards this is life is too short and you only live once.

What job do you have? Montessori elementary teacher

Do you have a partner/DH/kids? DH of 17 years, 4 DC

Are you financially very well off? We don’t own our own home or have any savings currently (I just returned to work after 6 years as a SAHM) but we should be in a more comfortable position this time next year. We can pay our bills and take the kids camping quite a lot, so they don’t suffer.

Are you in good health? A little overweight, but yes. One of our DC has ASD but all completely managed and whilst we are not sure if independent living is a feasible possibility, we are not worried.

Or is it just an attitude? I do think that this is a big part of it. We have some very rich friends and the level of work involved really impacts on family life IMO. We decided before we had kids that we would rather live simply and be content in a small home and go camping with the kids than climb the career, have a big house, expensive holidays, and have children who we wouldn’t see so much (based on the friends and family structures that we see around us). 12 years down the line, we are still happy with this decision.

Only here for the people who don't claim to be "well off" who then go on to say they own their own home and a second and enjoy two foreign holidays a year from their 4 bed detached in Surbiton 😂

I’m happy.

Job: work FT in IT. Don’t love or hate it but enjoy being able work from home 3 days per week

Family: DH & 3 kids. Together since Uni.

Finances: no money worries - comfortable

Health: all in good health

Attitude: I always have been happy really, although I accept that I had a great start in life and have been very lucky as well.

I think looking for small things to give you daily happiness is key - being in the moment is important.

We both work part-time in jobs we're really passionate about and that allow us the be creative. We've got fuck all money really but have time and space to enjoy our young DC's, and we live really simply by choice. I've had a more lucrative career and more disposable income before - I used to travel a lot and go out/buy whatever I wanted, but I can honestly say this is the happiest I've ever been. We are very lucky to be in this position and I'm thankful every day for the turn my life has taken.

I work part time in oil industry , my husband works offshore month on month off , money is no issue we have 2 boys aged 3/5

I'd say I'm pretty happy, sometimes find kids hard work on my own but apart from that there isn't anything I want u to o change in my life

We are happy

I work in advertising and partner works in finance. We are currently financially comfortable. No kids. We are 35 and 38.

My partner has a rare incurable heart condition. Life expectancy is not so good and will ultimately require a lung or heart and lung transplant...if they are one of the lucky ones.

Time might be short for us so we see life from a different perspective I think. Life is short and can be f*ing brutal so find happiness wherever you can, whenever you can.

I'm approaching pensionable age (caught in the govt changing the qualifying age though). Not doing paid work but I do a little charity work.

Married since 22 to DH and have had our ups and downs but he's my best friend and wouldn't be without him. He's just retired. We have a lot of children and grandchildren, some nearby who keep us very busy. Also have good friendship circle and long-standing friends.

Financially we are comfortable but it took a long time to reach that.

Health is not so great that's the one thing I'd like to change (for the better please).

Attitude plays a huge part. Both and a DH are really positive people so look for the good in situation.

I'm an academic and DH also works at a uni. It's hard work and intense at times but the flexibility makes up for it.

We have 1 DS who has just started school. Adapting to a new routine was tricky for all of us but we worked it out.

We've both got some minor health niggles but we're getting them sorted.

Huge continuing factors to our happiness are: family time, couple time and living in a village community where there is always something going on and everyone knows everyone.. It's our little sanctuary from the stresses of the world.

I'm really happy.

I'm single and live on my own
In good health and exercise a lot
Earn a reasonable wage in IT
Lovely family and friends although my mum is in bad health and that saddens me

For me it's an attitude, I would have liked children but that didn't happen for me, I have so much to be happy and grateful for though.

I give and be kind as much as possible as I find that's a surefire route to contentedness.

Well I'm widowed, but have two lovely daughters and a new grand-daughter.

I'm retired (that has to help!) but have found a really fulfilling, useful and interesting volunteer role, which is almost a job at times, but the amount of time I spend on it is entirely under my control, and I meet some wonderful people and get to help them.

So far my health is generally good, with just some of the usual mid 60s twinges and so on.

My house isn't special but it's paid for, and my pension (and what I get of my late husband's pension) is enough to live on, and my savings are enough to fund the travel that is my passion.

So yes, I consider myself fortunate. That doesn't mean I'm always happy of course, or don't have regrets about the past sometimes. But when I look around I know that many many people have a much harder time of things, so I'm grateful for my present situation and try to make the most of it. Because who knows what's around the corner. There's a history of sudden and extremely disabling strokes in my family. Things could change drastically tomorrow.

• Middle-manager role
• Reasonably comfortable but no savings and rent, don’t own property
• Unmarried but live with long-term DP and we have one DC
• Healthy enough, just verrry sleep-deprived due to working full-time and coping with toddler.

But hey, life is mostly good.

Health could be better - partly my own fault
2 teen DC’s single parent
Full time job in management it’s full on and often out of hours
Small commute
Nice house (HA)
Very little debt live within means but no holidays, live in the SE so cost of living is expensive even though I don’t earn badly
Love my children very much
Have nice friends
Ok being single

Pretty ok life to be honest

I am massively happy, almost never get the blues, and when I do it is very temporary.

I work as a physio for a charity. I love it and it is an integral part of my life. For a long time there was no real division between my home and work life, but I am more boundaried now.

I divorced 18 years ago and have been single since 2012. Have a son who is at university.

Financially manage. Can pay small mortgage and bills, run small car, eat, support 3 cats, and go out about once a month. Can't afford holidays, but live in a holiday area anyway. I could earn more by working longer paid hours, but I choose my hobbies instead.

Very healthy. Eat healthy, exercise hard, am through menopause, walk long distances for fun etc.

I'm like NotYourHun above - I have a simple but busy life, and I appreciate every second of it.

I’m trying to be happy - and am a positive person .
I work full time and don’t earn loads but am ok .
I am single parent to three kids and have lovely holidays and flexible working .
But my relationships have always been disastrous and this stops me feeling happy as I am lonely .

• What job do you have? Run technical projects for a life sciences company To pay the mortgage but sheep farming is my true vocation!
• Do you have a partner/DH/kids? DH, 2 boys
• Are you financially very well off? Massive mortgage due to buying the farm but go to bed full, warm and smiling every night so very well off in my opinion
• Are you in good health? Very (I hope)

I have read these with great interest and really enjoyed this thread!

Job: I have three - parent support liaison (3 days/week plus 1 evening/week), childminder (before/after school/nursery) and I teach part time (10 hours/week). I work many hours if you count it all up (24 + 20 + 10 = 54 hours a week and that's with no extra chlid minding, most weeks there's something as two of the families are shift workers).

Three DC's. I admit I learned that when a dc is struggling it can really impact your mental health.

Money - things are very tight. One dc has autism and a genetic disorder, services are few and far between so I pay out of pocket. I would say disabilities cost our family around £600-£800/month so I feel I can never earn enough which is hard on one person's shoulders.

Happy? Mostly very content. On the whole lovely dc, a dog that makes everyone's day, full of sloppy kisses and lots of lovely walks. Would love £20 a week just for me but that won't happen any time soon. Would love an extra £100 a month for the general budget and £250 a month to save would be ideal. My wants are small but a bit more financial security would be make things far easier for everyone.

A little at the people who say they aren't rich but have full paid for house, rental/holiday properties and hols abroad. Okay then. But to be clear, that is rich. No guilt needed but some perspective would be good, especially with so many families on the breadline.

Im a teaching assistant, two children doing Masters at uni, my husband retired early and is recovering from a heart attack.

I agree @RubysRoo I find it quite hard to swallow. Some people have no idea.