Happier?

[imoldernu]

Jeanie and I just spent an hour, talking about our lives and the future. We're both 82.

What could we do or ask for to make our lives happier? No kidding... a whole hour.

Doesn't include health, 'cuz that's not possible... just what we could ask for to make our lives better or happier.

We guessed for each other, thus the whole hour. Like "I'll bet you'd like....."

Long and short... Nothing... Nada... Nicht! Not a trip, not a car, not a new home, or even winning the lottery.

...and, believe it or not, not even a mention of money.

 

[Bamaman]

Giving away money to someone truly in need might give you joy. We have been studying happiness and joy at church.

 

[NW-Bound]

Jeanie and I just spent an hour, talking about our lives and the future. We're both 82.

What could we do or ask for to make our lives happier? No kidding... a whole hour.

Doesn't include health, 'cuz that's not possible... just what we could ask for to make our lives better or happier...

I do not desire any material thing right now. But I still like to have more money. It's because I may think of something to buy later. And I am also "scroogy".

Yes, I may want more money to give away too.

 

[Amethyst]

Unless one is immobilized or in a coma or dying, it should always be possible to improve health to some degree.

How about a fitness program designed just for you two?

Doesn't include health, 'cuz that's not possible... :

 

[sengsational]

Gratitude.


Simple exercise. Try it for a week. I'd bet you'd be noticably happier.


Before getting out of bed, picture each of your family and remembers and how much you value (love) each other, how you color each others lives, not worrying about disagreements, just accepting the reality, and being thankful that you have that relationship. Then find another, and another, and another. I usually I start with the closest family, but sometimes get to a distant cousin or a long lost friend. If I forget (or need to pee), I go back to bed and do that bit of gratitude. Every day.



You get the gratitude brain circuits firing, then you continue, "wow, I press a button and have boiling water for my tea...no need to build a fire, or I could drink the water without worrying about getting sick" Those are just examples that may or may not strike you. But if you try, there are a million things you can think of that gets the gratitude circuits firing.



It might sound fake or hokey, but you'll catch yourself being grateful without trying...and happier.

 

[MarieIG]

Perhaps you both are very fulfilled with your lives as they are.

 

[Car-Guy]

Unless one is immobilized or in a coma or dying, it should always be possible to improve health to some degree.

How about a fitness program designed just for you two?

I really "should" pay attention to this advice like this!

 

[marko]

Imoldernu: How lucky you are to be so content!! God bless!

 

[frayne]

Life is funny in the respect the older you get, the more you realize you don't need stuff to make you happy. It's all about helping others and love of family and friends.

 

[Red Badger]

Jeanie and I just spent an hour, talking about our lives and the future. We're both 82.

What could we do or ask for to make our lives happier? No kidding... a whole hour.

Doesn't include health, 'cuz that's not possible... just what we could ask for to make our lives better or happier.

We guessed for each other, thus the whole hour. Like "I'll bet you'd like....."

Long and short... Nothing... Nada... Nicht! Not a trip, not a car, not a new home, or even winning the lottery.

...and, believe it or not, not even a mention of money.

What an awesome post. DW and I are ~20 years junior. Our retirement is rather modest, but reasonably secure. Having retired less than 2 years ago, we sometimes reflect upon how we arrived here.

We married late (mid 30"s) and had my first career tank just after our DS arrived. Anyway, we clawed our way back to where I could retire at 60. Some evenings, we sit outside and reflect on our blessings. Then, in the morning, I get my ass up and get to the soup kitchen 'cause folks are counting on me.

 

[Dash man]

Happiness has been tricky at times, but things are much better these days. Finding the right meds to correct my depression, followed by three beautiful grandchildren, deeper appreciation of a loving wife, closer relationships with DSs, DDILs, DFIL, ability to help others, more opportunities to practice my Faith, and time to stop and smell the roses has life looking pretty good and much happier.
I only hope I’m as content in my 80s as Imoldernu.

 

[ER Eddie]

Giving away money to someone truly in need might give you joy. We have been studying happiness and joy at church.

That's a nice switch. Instead of asking what you would like/need to make your own self more happy, ask how you might make someone else's life a little less miserable.

I don't mean for that to sound "guilting." I'm more reminding myself of it than chiding anyone for thinking of their own happiness. That's my first instinct, too.

But even if you want to approach it from that angle (individual happiness), you can still get there by helping to reduce the suffering in the world, working to make the world a little better somehow, even in a small way.

Here's a silly example from yesterday. There was a small, baby lizard trapped in our stairwell at work. He was going to die there. I spent about 10 minutes retrieving a box lid, capturing him, and then taking him outside and finding him a nice place to live. It was one of the happiest moments of my day.

 

[davebarnes]

We (69/60) are quite happy.
We have enough money.
We both work part time.
We have a successful (work, marriage, motherhood) daughter.
Our grandson has not failed daycare (yet).

 

[Teacher Terry]

Eddie , it made a difference to that baby lizard) I have helped people and animals on a small scale. Every act of kindness makes a difference to some living being.

 

[Nemo2]

There was a small, baby lizard trapped in our stairwell at work. He was going to die there. I spent about 10 minutes retrieving a box lid, capturing him, and then taking him outside and finding him a nice place to live. It was one of the happiest moments of my day.

Almost immediately prior to going on one trip I saw a field mouse in the basement....figured he'd inadvertently come in via the sump pump hose or something.

Went out right away and purchased two traps, a live one and a killer, (figured we couldn't leave the mouse there while we were gone)......set the live one, caught him almost at once, and was so happy to be able to transfer him/her outside......(after delivering a stern lecture about trespassing, of course).

 

[Cayman]

Jeanie and I just spent an hour, talking about our lives and the future. We're both 82.

What could we do or ask for to make our lives happier? No kidding... a whole hour.

Doesn't include health, 'cuz that's not possible... just what we could ask for to make our lives better or happier.

We guessed for each other, thus the whole hour. Like "I'll bet you'd like....."

Long and short... Nothing... Nada... Nicht! Not a trip, not a car, not a new home, or even winning the lottery.

...and, believe it or not, not even a mention of money.

Thanks for sharing this Imoldernu. How fortunate you and your bride are to have such happiness and contentment.

 

[Olbidness]

I've had a heart attack and 2 cornea transplants in the last 2 years. I'm not dead and I'm not blind for which I'm very grateful. I was thinking about that when I was looking down the Yosemite valley a couple of months ago. Zero complaints.

 

[Souschef]

No complaints here. Some time ago I asked my wife is she was happy. Her response was that she was content.
We have been married for 11 years, and she no longer has any money worries. She once told me the the amount we have coming in just on SS and small pensions was more than her late husband took home, which is sad, in a way.

 

[Dawg52]

Content here. Doesn't take much to make me happy. Maybe a hooker would put me over the top.

 

[HFWR]

Content here. Doesn't take much to make me happy. Maybe a hooker would put me over the top.

Happy ending...

 

[imoldernu]

Thanks for all the comments...

Along with the things we have, and the worries that we don't have, maybe to add one of the things that gives us the most pleasure. Both of us have been "givers" or "sharers"... not so much givers of money but of time and help for others. As volunteers ever since we were married back in 1958, in many dozens,... we never counted. Schools, scouts, handicapped, and all sorts of organizations for the disadvantaged, right up until today, where I run interest groups in trivia, memories and now Alexa... for the elderly in our CCRC. Jeanie provides happy time for many of the widows and widowers ... just by talking with them. I spend time on a regular basis, with some of the less challenged residents of Memory Lane... our Alzheimer's unit.

Happy? Perhaps the best times are when we're being with others and sharing happiness. Life really is good.
.............................................................................
Oh! one more thing... the health... we're trying... We've had
a few close calls. Stroke for Jeanie in 94, cancer for me in '89, and a very, very close call... about 5 weeks ago... for me... but fine now. So...

Happy, and very thankful .

 

[imoldernu]

No complaints here. Some time ago I asked my wife is she was happy. Her response was that she was content.
We have been married for 11 years, and she no longer has any money worries. She once told me the the amount we have coming in just on SS and small pensions was more than her late husband took home, which is sad, in a way.

Busy as you two are... no time to be unhappy. Am not yet half way through your adventures. One at a time, instead of a dumb TV show.

 

[brucethebroker]

"Always have an attitude of gratitude."
Sterling K. Brown

 

[Beer-man]

Happiness can be fleeting and cheap. Finding joy during struggles....that is the true blessing.
Glad you are in a good place, I suggest you seek out a younger couple to mentor cause there are alot of couples struggling.

 

[Beer-man]

Thanks for all the comments...

Along with the things we have, and the worries that we don't have, maybe to add one of the things that gives us the most pleasure. Both of us have been "givers" or "sharers"... not so much givers of money but of time and help for others. As volunteers ever since we were married back in 1958, in many dozens,... we never counted. Schools, scouts, handicapped, and all sorts of organizations for the disadvantaged, right up until today, where I run interest groups in trivia, memories and now Alexa... for the elderly in our CCRC. Jeanie provides happy time for many of the widows and widowers ... just by talking with them. I spend time on a regular basis, with some of the less challenged residents of Memory Lane... our Alzheimer's unit.

Happy? Perhaps the best times are when we're being with others and sharing happiness. Life really is good.
.............................................................................
Oh! one more thing... the health... we're trying... We've had
a few close calls. Stroke for Jeanie in 94, cancer for me in '89, and a very, very close call... about 5 weeks ago... for me... but fine now. So...

Happy, and very thankful .

Glad you are passing it on. I think that might just be the secret to keeping it.
Thanks for sharing.