Beat the January blues and share your secrets of happiness to win a copy of THE SECRETS OF HAPPINESS by Lucy Diamond plus a SHEER BLISS PAMPER HAMPER!

[UrsulaMumsnet]

Defy Blue Monday by sharing the secrets to your happiness for a chance to win a copy of Lucy Diamond's new novel The Secrets of Happiness plus a fabulous Sheer Bliss Pamper Hamper

What is the secret of happiness? Family? Love? Endless chocolate? Stepsisters Rachel and Becca certainly aren’t experts. They've never been close and seem to live perfectly opposite lives - Rachel has the house, husband and kids, while Becca lurches from one dead-end job and bad date to another. But when Rachel doesn't come home one night, Becca realises that her life isn't as perfect as she'd thought, and when the two stepsisters are thrown together, they discover that happiness, like love, can hide in the least likely of places.

Lucy Diamond is the bestselling author of Summer at Shell Cottage. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

This discussion is sponsored by Pan Macmillan and will end on 15 February. We will post the winner on the thread on that date.

[lesley37]

A long soak in a bubbly bath with a good book and a glass of wine

[Quietvoiceplease]

Acceptance. That this is life: not some future nirvana where the wet towels are picked up off the bathroom floor, the kids always listen and money is no object. But here, now. It is imperfect, but it is a happy life if you acknowledge the good stuff, and give yourself time to be present in them. As they say, the only control you have is over how you react to the situations life throws you. All sounds like some twee motivational quote poster stuff, but is true I think.

[henbane]

Happiness is being able to escape to somewhere warm, when the weather at home is cold, wet & windy like it is now!

[FrootLoops]

Definitely the house to myself, chocolate coffee or a glass of wine and a really gripping book. Everything else just melts away. It is more refreshing than a good night's sleep.

[sallyc06]

Family is a gift, treasure it.

[wrenster]

Watching my children learn to do something new and seeing their faces when they master it

[Lucretia12]

Let go of the past, enjoy the present and do not fear the future or more immediate happiness - pyjamas, a cup of hot chocolate and reading a good book

[Booklover123]

Listening to the tide roaring in on a stormy night whilst I am cosy warm in bed reading.

[kath2]

For my Mums birthday this year, I hired a beach hut for the day. Seeing her settled on a deckchair with her book and knitting and an ice cream, with her grandchildren building sand castles nearby was just the best feeling! Complete happiness.

[NotTheSpiceOfLife]

Counting your blessings every day, and realising that comparison is the thief of joy.

[coffeeisnectar]

I love Lucy diamond!

Happiness is all my family at home, hot bath, chocolate, clean sheets on the bed and a good book. And a cat on my lap.

It really is the little things.

[barricade]

Family, love, good food, inspiring travel, sunshine and blue skies, and living/chasing/enjoying your passion (be it books, looks, blu-rays, stingrays, driving, diving, flying, fishing ... or whatever!) ... all keys to happiness.

[Pigeonpea]

Just taking that minute to realise how blessed I am to be a mum and a wife and an awesome woman, with true love and support around me

[lou74poole]

Getting outdoors and heading for open space x

[busterj]

A glass of wine and a cuddle with my wife xx

[SallySwann]

Starting a new book works every time for me - a whole new world awaits.

[poshpink]

Enjoying family life to the full, allowing other members to do what they want without me nagging all the time!

[glenka]

Sitting down by the beach and just forgetting about everything for a while.

[Jenniww]

Waking up knowing myself and my family and friends are healthy 😊

[sary]

Having a glass of wine with good friends

[magsb1]

I have a wonderful husband a wonderful daughter a lovely dog, a roof over my head, time to read or watch a film, it's the simple things that make me happy and thankful for what I do have

[magmaSKG]

5 hour catch up with a friend

[shewhomustbeEbayed]

Happiness is savouring time with my 12 yr old DD while she still wants to spend time with me.
I purposely don't listen to the news, I enjoy listening to radio plays while I drive between visits ( I'm an Admiral Nurse supporting the carers of people with Dementia ) I'm inspired by their resilience and it helps me appreciate what I've got, my health and family.

[Sariward]

Happiness is being thankful for the day-to-dayness of life. Arriving home to your family after a busy day. Having a cup of tea and catch up with my husband and cuddles with my daughter. Realising life is too short for boring biscuits xx

[Solent7]

2 hours of absolute peace in the house - bliss...and a glass of wine never hurts!