Get Older, Be Happy (50+, crying, years, support)

[LauraC]

"Satisfaction with life starts to drop as early as a person's late 20s and does not begin to recover until well past 50, says Bert van Landeghem, an economist at Maastricht University in Belgium...Last month, Lewis Wolpert, emeritus professor of biology at University College London, said happiness could peak as late as 80. In a book called You're Looking Very Well, Prof Wolpert said most people were "averagely happy" in their teens and 20s, but this declined until early middle age as they attempted to support a family and career. He added: 'From the mid-40s, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late 70s or 80s.'"

Happiness is U-shaped ... which explains why the middle-aged are grumpy - Telegraph

[Happy in Wyoming]

If Landeghem and Wolpert were to read the posts on this subforum, they would change their minds very quickly. Or is whining the new measure of happiness?

[JohnHAdams]

Originally Posted by LauraC

"Satisfaction with life starts to drop as early as a person's late 20s and does not begin to recover until well past 50, says Bert van Landeghem, an economist at Maastricht University in Belgium...Last month, Lewis Wolpert, emeritus professor of biology at University College London, said happiness could peak as late as 80. In a book called You're Looking Very Well, Prof Wolpert said most people were "averagely happy" in their teens and 20s, but this declined until early middle age as they attempted to support a family and career. He added: 'From the mid-40s, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late 70s or 80s.'"

Happiness is U-shaped ... which explains why the middle-aged are grumpy - Telegraph

woo hoo!!!

Sort of like "I can't wait until tomorrow because I get better looking every day"?


I kind of enjoy watching the decline in my looks. I suffered through over-reactions my entire life. I am slowing becoming a nobody.

Over reactions are a royal pain in the ass.

[matisse12]

I would much rather be in my teens or early 20's, starting live all over again, than be my current age of 63 and supposedly happier or gaining in happiness...... since age 63 means very little time left.

No question - I would much rather be young again. I don't care what a study or studies show about gaining in happiness in old age. There is plenty of happines at every age and at any age.

[greatblueheron]

Oh, I so agree..well maybe 50+, as it was for me.

To be content with yourself, at last, is a blessing indeed!

Originally Posted by LauraC

"Satisfaction with life starts to drop as early as a person's late 20s and does not begin to recover until well past 50, says Bert van Landeghem, an economist at Maastricht University in Belgium...Last month, Lewis Wolpert, emeritus professor of biology at University College London, said happiness could peak as late as 80. In a book called You're Looking Very Well, Prof Wolpert said most people were "averagely happy" in their teens and 20s, but this declined until early middle age as they attempted to support a family and career. He added: 'From the mid-40s, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late 70s or 80s.'"

Happiness is U-shaped ... which explains why the middle-aged are grumpy - Telegraph

[LynnKK]

What a load of hooey! The most difficult thing you do is "get old". And all the crap that goes with it.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by LauraC

"Satisfaction with life starts to drop as early as a person's late 20s and does not begin to recover until well past 50, says Bert van Landeghem, an economist at Maastricht University in Belgium...Last month, Lewis Wolpert, emeritus professor of biology at University College London, said happiness could peak as late as 80. In a book called You're Looking Very Well, Prof Wolpert said most people were "averagely happy" in their teens and 20s, but this declined until early middle age as they attempted to support a family and career. He added: 'From the mid-40s, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late 70s or 80s.'"

Happiness is U-shaped ... which explains why the middle-aged are grumpy - Telegraph

When I hit 40 I realized several things. One thing was that I could finally quit worrying over "What will people think??"...mostly because I realized they weren't thinking about me anyway. And secondly, that happiness is overrated. I decided that "happy" is simply an emotion that "comes and goes" according to circumstance and that being "content" was much more desirable. The older I get the more content I seem to be and that's just fine with me! I know I don't worry about things nearly as much as I did when I was younger. Most of the things I worried about never happened anyway so was a waste of time. I don't have time to waste anymore!

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by susanra

I would much rather be in my teens or early 20's, starting live all over again, than be my current age of 63 and supposedly happier or gaining in happiness...... since age 63 means very little time left.

No question - I would much rather be young again. I don't care what a study or studies show about gaining in happiness in old age. There is plenty of happines at every age and at any age.

What a depressing thought! You don't know how much time you have left...none of us do...but I could never think that way.

I wouldn't want to go through my teens and 20s again. Not for nobody or nothing. If I could pick the "perfect" age to be, forever and ever, it would probably be 35. I accomplished more in my 30s than I ever did before, or since, and they were great years. The years since have been good too but those were definitely my "golden years".

[texdav]

Originally Posted by susanra

I would much rather be in my teens or early 20's, starting live all over again, than be my current age of 63 and supposedly happier or gaining in happiness...... since age 63 means very little time left.

No question - I would much rather be young again. I don't care what a study or studies show about gaining in happiness in old age. There is plenty of happines at every age and at any age.

had a ball in my 20's and befroe. But if I were 20 and the same situation as retiremnt then the sky would be the limit. Youht now more than ever is wasted on the young with there crying now days.

[greatblueheron]

Sorry to see some of these negative replies....perhaps I should have included the list of all my meds and my aches and pains in my previous response!

Aging is not rosy, but personally I am content. Guess that can happen at any age....it just took me awhile.

gbh