TORONTO – The carefree days of recess, cutting class and hanging out at the mall after school aren’t life’s happiest moments, a new survey contends.
It turns out high school – and even childhood – isn’t the best time of time our lives. But 33 years old is, British respondents revealed in a new survey.
It’s around that age that respondents had children or hit successes at work – pivotal milestones in life that make people genuinely happy.
SOUND OFF: At what age were you happiest with life? Tell us on Facebook.
After surveying about 2,000 people over the age of 40 in England, results showed that seven out of 10 people weren’t “truly happy” until they blew out 33 candles, website Friends Reunited, a British spin off of Classmates.com, says.
Drawing on walls as a child was life’s highlight for 16 per cent of people while six per cent of respondents said high school was when their happiness levels peaked. Those university days, most notable for being broke, stressed and hung over, were six per cent of people’s sunniest days.
On the other hand, about 20 per cent of respondents said their true happiness came after they achieved success at work. Another 36 per cent said family and friends were their biggest sources of joy – they were most content when they had kids.
“The age of 33 is enough time to have shaken off childhood naivety and the wild scheming of teenaged years without losing the energy and enthusiasm of youth. By this age, innocence has been lost, but our sense of reality is mixed with a strong sense of hope, a “can do” spirit, and a healthy belief in our own talents and abilities. We have yet to develop the cynicism and world-weariness that comes with later years,” psychologist Donna Dawson said in a press release accompanying the survey’s findings.
When respondents were asked why they were happiest at these times in their lives, more than half said they chose 33 because, at that age, life was more fun – probably because they had a steady income of money to enjoy it.
They were also optimistic about the future and it was at that age that their family was closest.
Another 14 per cent said they were happiest when they became a grandparent while 13 per cent were most satisfied with life when they first had full-time work.
Comments