To ask if you've ever experience a moment of pure happiness?

[PaddleBoardingMomma]

I'm talking unadulterated pure bliss, a moment in life you just knew there and then was what real happiness felt like, a moment captured in time you can look back on now and still feel joyous about? If so... please share :)

I've never felt it, not that "perfect" moment any way. I'm beginning to wonder if it's happened and I didn't appreciate it, or if it's just never happened for me. Maybe other peoples stories might help me decide the answer on that one!

Walking our two dogs today, both behaving themselves but having fun and chasing around in the woods, it was a moment I thought to myself that “this is happiness”

The day my husband - then DP - surprised me with my dog. I'm very difficult to surprise, I have high expectations which are almost never met or I always guess the surprise, but I had absolutely no idea he was going to do this. When the puppy's tiny head popped out of the basket he was in I cried in delight (I NEVER cry!) I stayed up most of the night just gazing at him in adoration - I never even did that when my DC arrived . I feel such happiness even thinking about that memory almost eight years on.

I also get that feeling when relaxing in really beautiful places, Bali and Rottnest Island in Western Australia spring to mind.

Another one that stands out is Christmas Day a few years ago. I had two tiny children and had expected it to be a chaotic, tiring, mess of a day but it had actually been lovely. I remember sitting on the couch that evening watching a movie with DH, the beautiful christmas tree to my left, the dog curled at my leg. My toddler was sleeping like an angel in bed and my two week old newborn was asleep on my chest. I remember breathing in the gorgeous baby scent at the top of her tiny head and feeling complete, contented, bliss.

Loving this thread. So lovely x

I’ve had quite a few on big nights out, before I had my two children, where I am dancing with friends and it’s just an incredible feeling and you take a mental snapshot as you KNOW this is one of the best nights of your life. I’ve had the overwhelming love for my children but that has always been tinged with a sense of fear of something happening to them and also rhe responsibility of having them! The nights when I had the pure joy were more carefree.

Yes lots for me. When DH and I are sitting in beach chairs on the boundary of a cricket pitch with a glass of chilled wine in our hands and watching DFS take wickets. I just feel so proud of how far he has come. In that moment life is perfect.

In France I am lying on our favourite beach reading my book and I look up and see DH and DFS swimming in the sea. I smile and all is well in the world.

This year in early December we had an early Xmas for my dd, ds's and dfs and 2 dgc. I looked around table as we were pulling crackers and was just so happy as had not been able to share Xmas for 2 years with all my children, dgs's and DFS all together. I remember thinking you are all my favourite people. I have everything I need right here.

I have a horse and occasionally when I'm riding him, for no reason in particular, I feel pure joy.

Yes. They all involved my children when they were toddlers. If I could swap lives with anyone, I'd swap lives with myself when the children were that age. I know lots of people aren't that keen on toddlers (I'm pretty meh about teenagers, so I get it), I absolutely loved mine being toddlers. That really was sheer happiness, for me.

I was a very practical young adult not easily swayed by romance. I was in a really happy place with lots of lovely friends and very happily single. I went on a university trip abroad was introduced to another student and fell in love (at first sight)! I played it down as it was totally impractical (life pre email and mobile) and told no one, including him. I arrived at the airport to leave and he was waiting for me. Told me he had fallen in love with me and we would make it work. My flight was called and as I stood at the bottom of the escalators we had our first kiss and I left! It was beyond doubt the happiest moment of my life. It didn’t work out, but we had fun trying to make it work, I’ve since married and had children and amazing moments in my life, but that is without doubt - with the freedom of youth and possibilities - the moment of pure joy that still fills my heart with happiness. Thank you for reminding me OP, I haven’t thought of it in a while - it was a very long time ago!

My wedding day. We were abroad, it was warm and sunny by the sea and everyone I love was there including my grandad who died 6 months later.

I had one the other week. I was playing with DS and we were laughing and giggling, I can’t even remember what about but I looked at him and just thought, you are bloody brilliant, I’m so happy.

Lots, but one of my happiest is being in hospital with newborn DC3 and waiting for DH and my (much loved and very much missed) mum to bring the elder two DC in after school to meet their new brother. The moment that they all came into the ward is still so clear in my mind even thought it’s nearly 15 years ago - there was so much love, excitement and joy. A very, very special time.

After years of stressful fertility treatment…I will never forget feeding my newborn, with the spring sun streaming through the windows and the birds tweeting outside.

When each of my dc were born , seeing their faces for the first time, it was instant love and something i cherish and will remember to the end of my life.

Holding my first born - my dp went to the pub next the hospital for a quick drink with our family and I just had this precious time, just me and her, and I’ve never felt happiness like that. I try take myself back there on particularly hard days!

A few years ago one gorgeous summer evening I went on a hot air balloon trip.

As we lifted off the ground and floated upwards it was exciting to see the ground and people shrink below us, and to hear all the noise of life recede into the distance.

But once we'd reached our cruising height and were travelling peacefully across the countryside I can honestly say that I felt the most happy and the most peaceful I have ever felt before or since.

That balloon trip was a thing of pure joy.

Right up until the point where we crash landed in the wrong field!

The other evening we were all sat in the living room together. I was reading a recipe book, DH and DS were watching a rugby match, and DD was building some Lego. It was just so peaceful and lovely and together. That made me happy.

I get these all the time. I think this is what makes me content. They are moments but they are so perfect and so great.

Every day.

Usually involving dog, or swimming, or the beach. Sometimes it's having breakfast on the deck in the morning overlooking the sun come up over the sea.

Also seeing said firstborn meet her baby sister! Was another moment I’ll never forget. Pure holy tears

Happy not holy!

I've not had emotionally the best of days. I told DP I wasn't cooking. So we ended up with burger king! Then we all sat around the table laughing & joking and I just felt better. My life is fat from perfect (the counsellor lady pointed out today that my life has been very difficult). Sat in my kitchen tonight laughing with DP & my DD's I felt very whole.

OP, are you watching Buffy?

Giving birth to DC2. I had a pretty awful birth with DC1 and ended in EMCS so was determined this time I would do things my way and try for a VBAC. Feeling DC2 pop out and having them handed to me, knowing I'd done what I set out to do, was the happiest and proudest moment of my life. The rush of love and happiness was just unreal. I'll treasure it forever.

I'm not sure if this is what yo mean, it wasn't a moment of "pure happiness" like being on holiday or being in love or anything like that but it was a moment when I felt myself after 10 years of suffering from a horrible mental health issue.

I finally went to my doctor and was diagnosed with OCD after years of intrusive thoughts, misdiagnosis' and not knowing what was going on. I decided to finally go on an SSRI after years of being scared too. I genuinely had lived in fear of my mind for such a long time that I just couldn't remember what it felt like to feel like "me".

I started taking the tablets and after about 6 weeks, I guess, they started to work. One day my DP, young DD and myself were driving in the car and it was a beautiful sunny day and I just felt the sun on my face and it felt amazing not to feel anxious. I felt content for the first time in years.

I will never forget it. It was a beautiful feeling (as cliché as that sounds)

Yes, I was travelling abroad in South Africa aged 19. I was sitting on a minibus full of newly-made friends, sun streaming through the window, on my way to a remote volunteer project through incredible wild landscape. I looked out of the window and realised that in the very moment I literally could not be happier. I was in the right place and the right time with the right people.
It’s been 15 years and I haven’t felt it since and I don’t expect that I will either.

Yes, but my soul was taken away, I tormented the girl I loved and her family and friends.

I was sent to a hell dimension and eventually came back as a feral beast.

Never did get the girl, she went for some peroxide blond English ponce instead.