Clicky poll: Are you happy?

Jodi&Joe

I wonder, often, if I will EVER truly be happy.  Don't get me wrong, I have moments of happiness.  Days even.  But all in all, I am not happy.  Never really have been.  There's always SOMETHING missing.  When I was single, it was that I wanted a boyfriend.  Now that I have a husband, I could do without one.  (LOL, I'm kidding!)

Kids, house, stress of life....I don't want to be a grown up.  But I didn't realize that when I was actually able to NOT be one.  Not that I ever really did have much of a childhood, in the traditional sense (so to speak). 

So.....

 

And yes, I only gave two options.  Either you are, or you aren't.  I always say that I pray my children are HAPPY adults -- but I'm not even sure what that really means.  Free of worry?  More happy than sad?  I don't know.

[Poll]

SMHWife

I am quite shocked at the amount of people who voted "NO"

Jodi&Joe

Only 4 people voted, it's 50/50 so that means TWO said no!  LOL

SMHWife

Oh geez... I failed to read how many people voted! Oops!

shopgirl78

Despite being in a funk today, I am generally a very happy person. 

xbrooklyngrl

Yes I am truly happy. Just recently is really the first phase I've gone through in my life where I had so much worry. Even though we didn't have any easy life or childhood, I really was never unhappy. I've always been very positive. I think all the things that have happened have just given me enough of a scare to once again appreciate what I DO HAVE and work harder at what I want.

Yesterday, I taught Brooke to do something that I try to do a few times a week...thank God for all we have, for our health and our happiness. I am not a religous person but I have to thankful for that.

kjr

My boss was just talking to me about this the other day.  He was saying that he thinks people need to just recognize that life is hard and not every day is going to involve some magical moment or extreme high.  But most days are the day to day routine of bills, stress, headaches and so on.  The sooner we accept that that is life, the sooner we will realize we need to find joy in each day and actually be happy.  Instead of waiting for things to be perfect or better. 

It was definitely an odd conversation but I have been trying to find joy in every day since then. 

justEK

kjr:

My boss was just talking to me about this the other day.  He was saying that he thinks people need to just recognize that life is hard and not every day is going to involve some magical moment or extreme high.  But most days are the day to day routine of bills, stress, headaches and so on.  The sooner we accept that that is life, the sooner we will realize we need to find joy in each day and actually be happy.  Instead of waiting for things to be perfect or better. 

It was definitely an odd conversation but I have been trying to find joy in every day since then. 

This makes so much sense. When I was extremely depressed, my OB told me all the things I was upset about were "just life". That one day I would learn to accept my life as my own and find some happiness instead of wanting something different or waiting for something to happen. 

luckyluvr

I would say I have a lot of happy times, but in general, I'm not truly happy. I know what would need to happen for me to be truly happy, but they are not possibilities. So I put on the happy face for a lot of people a lot of times. I'm coming to believe that that's just how it's going to be, so I have to deal.

#6

I usually am, used to extremely happy but now...not so much.  With work, stress with finances being crappy (only 1 minimum wage income for a family of 5) our hectic schedules with activities, school, church etc.  Im depressed and struggling with some major PTSD due to my brothers death 3 yrs ago that I have put off and bottled up inside.  I am finally going to counseling and started a Rx for my depression.  But I just started so neither have really helped yet.  Add in that I really dont feel like Im coping with life day to day and its affecting my job.    Im a mess.  I dont find joy in simple things that I used to and have no drive to do anything "fun" unless I really push myself into it.  

I try to still think positively  though. My kids are happy, healthy, and doing well in school.  We have a warm place to live, health insurance, food on the table, and some extras that others do not have.   Dh and I are going through a bit of a rough time (to say the least) but I we love each other very much and are in for the long haul.  We are just overly stressed and take it out on each other.    

I cant wait for him to finish school. A lot of this will get better once he finishes school and gets a job.  Im just trying to hang on until then.   

Melett

I am more like you Jodi, and I agree with KJR's boss-I plan to teach my kids that while life has some really great moments, there are hard times too.. I do appreciate everything God has done for my family especially in the last couple of tough years and I know things could be a lot worse, I really do. I am not religious, but I think I have good, close relationship with God, But I have an underlining feeling of unhappiness A LOT of the time. For me I feel like life is really hard.. I don't think I was always like this, but definitely my adulthood I have been like this..I think I may need to be medicated. I also feel like most people who know me probably "think" I am happy..sorry, I am so depressing, it's just how I feel so I voted NO..

Bellisimo

You know, I voted "No" but felt the need to explain.  People may say, "What in the WORLD do you have to be unhappy about?" but it's more of a feeling of not being "content".  I love my husband but there are times when life together is HARD work!  I LOVE and adore my kids, but I know that there's more to me than just being a Mom.  I miss having a career yet I know that if I had to go back to work TOMORROW I'd wish I could stay home.  It's a "grass is always greener but it still has to be mowed" sort of deal.  I think it's human nature to feel that way to an extent.  But, I have some underlying issues that may make my feelings extreme at times.  My family life growing up was both very bad yet good in other ways.  It affected me in a BIG way.  I wish that I was one that walked this Earth day to day with a stick of sunshine shoved up my @ss and never questioned anything or wanted anything different.  Buuuut, I'm not.  I'm me.  Complicated.  Moody.  Happy.  Sad.  Up and Down.  Do I wish I could rewind and do some things differently?  Absolutely!  Do I wish I could eliminate certain people or factors that affect me negatively in an effort to achieve a more whole sense of happiness?  Most definitely.  But, it is what it is.  I'm trying to make the most of the hand I was dealt in life....and trying not to make certain mistakes over again...and certainly trying to make life better for my kids by learning from my past.  Amen.

ccm1203

I voted yes because all in all I am CONTENT with my life. Am I happy all the time? No way.  Are there stresses?  Sure, but we make it through and are stronger for it. 

FloF9

I voted yes because all in all I am CONTENT with my life. Am I happy all the time? No way.  Are there stresses?  Sure, but we make it through and are stronger for it. 

This 100% 

gracendantho26

Yes! I don't want to look back at 50 and realized I worried too much, stressed to much, was focused on things that are ultimately not important. I want to enjoy the ride and I don't want to waste time. And this comes from a lot of thought....

belle204

I have happy moments or moments of content but I'm not an overall happy person. Yeah, life has ups and downs and we can control how we allow ourselves to react to things but sometimes you just get tired of trying.

Zenya

After years of trying to think my way into happy living I'm slowly realizing that I need to live my way into happy thinking.  I used to spend so much time sitting around fantasizing about Big Life Changes.  But I have found that when I just DO happy things like eat well, exercise, get out in the fresh air, keep busy, turn off the computer.  Those are all things that in the moment make me happy.  

I've long suspected that alcohol was depressing me and now that I'm pregnant (and not drinking obviously) I'm even more assured of that.  

So actually today I am not happy b/c I've been cooped up for a week with my stupid foot.  But when I was doing everything I wrote above I was really happy. 

Jodi&Joe

Growing up in turmoil, I crave those highs!  I don't think most even understand that when they haven't had experience with it.  But the lows were REALLY low and the highs were REALLY high growing up.  There was no place of content....it was all really bad, or really good.  I just want to BE.  That's all.  But my mind, my mind won't let me.  It is my worst enemy.  I think I'm happiest when I'm out riding with Joe because I don't THINK.  I have my first initial 10 minutes of "Ohfuck, I hope we don't die.  What would happen to Joey/Cam?" and then I'm GOOD for the rest of the time.  Even when out with friends, in general, I'm STILL thinking.  On the Harley, no thinking allowed.  It's just living....I freaking love it.

But I can't always be on the Harley.

I would answer no to my own poll...and up until about 2 years ago, I think that would shock most of my family and friends.  Most would say "Jodi is always so happy!"  No, Jodi is just the clown...who does a good job at keeping her misery in her head (and on the Nest)!!  ;(

ccm1203

Jodi&Joe:

Growing up in turmoil, I crave those highs!  I don't think most even understand that when they haven't had experience with it.  But the lows were REALLY low and the highs were REALLY high growing up.  There was no place of content....it was all really bad, or really good.  I just want to BE.  That's all.  But my mind, my mind won't let me.  It is my worst enemy.

   I did not grow up in turmoil, so I don't really know what it is like (your right in that aspect).  But you say your mind won't let you BE, you have to TRAIN your mind to let you.

Carol*Brady

I vote No...I only remember a couple years (grad school) where I felt fullfilled, content & happy most of the time.  Now I have it "all" in terms of what I wanted but struggle daily w/ finding joy & happiness.  Little things that go wrong set me feeling off for all day sometimes multiple days--and w/ kids, you know things go wrong a lot.

BubblyToes

Nope, not by a long shot presently.

Bellisimo

gracendantho26:

Yes! I don't want to look back at 50 and realized I worried too much, stressed to much, was focused on things that are ultimately not important. I want to enjoy the ride and I don't want to waste time. And this comes from a lot of thought....

I hope in a few years I'm mature enough to think this way.  I really have very little to complain about, yet my complaints sometimes overwhelm me.  And that's sad.  I need to just ride it out and love every minute of it!  In my 30's I'm learning LOTS of new life skills!

Bellisimo

BubblyToes:

Nope, not by a long shot presently.

I'm really hoping that will do a 180 REALLY soon!  

PearlieGirl'sMom

I put "Yes", but if I had another choice, I would say "I am getting there." Happiness is a choice and an inside job. I have to learn to like me before I can truly be happy and that is an ongoing project.

r9stedt

My gut says YES!   Could it get better?  YES!   But I am definitely not sad!

 

You guys have brightened my spirits a lot.