What was the happiest period in your life?

I certainly have not reached my peak, and I am a live in the moment type. But I would say the period where everything was just perfect for me was last year up to the start of the summer. I had my own place and was working. But then I got a roomate and some other things happened. I feel like things are shifting back to that again and im in the process of finding a new place

Things are going pretty well for me right now, actually. Married to a great woman, got two smart and healthy boys who are an absolute joy, got a job that I enjoy that allows me to both travel -and- spend a lot of time with my family and I just got a promotion yesterday, a nice house, car, etc. I had PRK done back in March so now I can see awesome without glasses, too. Also, a Japanese-style arcade/bar opened up in my neighborhood literally five minutes from my house where we have a good crowd that's into pretty much whatever fighting game you might want to play (SF2, Third Strike, MK2, Rival Schools, Soul Calibur 1 and 2, plus modern games on consoles or gaming laptops).

Of course, there's stuff to complain about no matter what's going on. I tore my ACL in BJJ a while back which put me out of training for a long time and I'm still working my way back into it, which is a pain and my knee still doesn't feel 100%. I don't spend as much time with my friends as I used to, and one of my oldest friends passed away recently and another friend who was supposed to help with aspects of preparing the wake flaked (predictably) and I had to take on their responsibilities in addition to my own at the last minute. There's always "stuff" going on but if I look at my wife with any sort of perspective it's very hard to not be happy. I spent my younger years partying hard with a great group of friends. Clubs, hotels, vegas trips, etc. While I had an absolute -blast- doing that in my 20s, I wouldn't trade where I am now for anything.

-Byshop

my life nothing but pain and torture

I dunno, maybe my childhood. Life was so simple and carefree back then. Teenage/high-school years were meh and while things have picked up after I got into university (got my bachelors and masters degree, member of my professor's research lab, good friends) I'm still struggling a bit now at 24. I have minor social anxiety and comfort-zone issues which make it hard for me to get a girlfriend and otherwise enjoy most stuff that others do. And I'm starting my mandatory military service this January so that's gonna be another 9 months of sucking...

I don't think I've had it yet and I don't see myself being happy anytime soon.

Elementary years followed by HS years followed by early adulthood with my first car/freedom followed by marriage and family.

Probably back when I was 10 to 12 years old. I remember having the most amount of friends (and even best friends) at that age. It was also the years 1998-2000, which might as well be the golden age of gaming. I remember never feeling bored, stressed or anything close to that in those days.

@Mercenary848: The day my daughter was born. A surreal experience that's hard to explain.

As far as period: back when I lived in FL, me and my 2 older brother built a fort on Tampa Bay. We'd walk down the creek behind our house to get there. Also, I had a 3 wheel "old man" tricycle they had a wire cage on the back with a cooler and cast net. Used a friend's private dock on Tampa Bay to net mullet(vegetarian fish) Sold them for a $1 a piece at Safety Harbor pier. Best, most relaxing time in my life.

My happiest period of my life is without a doubt having a Daughter is all I can say is, I'm happy to be a Dad, a good one, and most of all, I have a family to look after. But there's more to it, my other happiest moments of my life is also playing games! That's right, it's my all time ultimate hobby. I been gaming since 1993 with my first console that is SNES but something also happen, I got into PC gaming in 2007 the day that Crysis launch and from there, PC gaming has felt like I enter the final frontier. I did played few PC games in the late 90's myself, I just never build or actually own a PC for myself.

@joshrmeyer: Hey Josh, nice to see you at the old OT board. It’s good to take a break from PG for awhile haha!

I’ve been learning a lot about fly fishing, I’m planning on going for the first time myself within the next year. I could use the relaxation.

Every time I get drunk

@Mercenary848: Lol yeah, the PG board is a stress. Fly fishing is great. Fishing in general is so relaxing if you can find a nice secluded spot. Let me know how you do!

When I was in my younger years. There was never to worry about that time and also, the time I graduated elementary and junior high school.

I also finally overcome my loss of interest in my studies back then. If I could only go back in time and extend my life when I was younger.

I’ve learned to live in the moment and not let the past or the future effect me as much as it used to. Mainly through meditation.

So right now is the happiest I’ve ever been.

Sitting a peer at Leven, fishing aged 7. Caught two fish, donno what they were. One was prob sea bass.

Not sure, but I really hope it hasn't happened already haha

@joshrmeyer: thanks, you said you lived in Florida. So you are probably familiar with my hometown Savannah ga! There are plenty of spots to fish there when I go back home

@Mercenary848: I've only been there a few times. I take I-75 to get to Tampa. So I don't usually go to the east side of GA much.

@Mercenary848: In overall happiness? Probably around 2007-2010.

Was in great shape, but didn't have any nagging injuries from weight lifting yet. My body still worked like a young man.

Was actually making less money, but lived in a smaller place, so the disposable income was the same. Didn't have kids yet, and my relationship with my (now) wife was fresh and new.

Doesn't mean I'm "unhappy" now or anything, it's just that with marriage, kids, increased job pressure comes higher highs, and lower lows. Not to mention I'm 38 now, and really starting to understand just how much longer I take to recover from injury, muscle fatigue, etc.

The happy moments with my kids now are probably the happiest little slices of time though.

Haven't hit that point yet?

From being a kid up until I graduated high school were the happiest times for me. Playing Ocarina of Time in the 90s, going to Cross Country meets and practice with my awesome teammates and fucking around in high school. No worrying about getting and keeping a job, paying bills, being able to afford to live on my own. All of that is pressing down on me every day and even with a bachelors degree I’m still not able to get a good paying job. I do have a relationship now though for the first time in my life and I have one of the best graphics cards and more games than I could possibly want or imagine when I was a kid. I remember wanting to play so many GameCube games back then. Now I run Fzero GX on an emulator and it would blow my 12 year old self’s mind away.

Pluses and minuses, I guess.

He obv means currently.

Nice, I listen to positive affirmations, do you? I have been trying to learn to meditate properly. I have the not thinking thing down so far.

Might be in it. Finally have a decent job that doesn't make me wanna toss myself off the nearest roof. Working with good people that look out for me. Family is doing well.

Yep, it's all downhill from here.

I'll be on the roof.

I dunno really. I would say ever since I moved out on my own. My first apartment sucked and not too long after I moved into a better apartment I became horribly depressed. And I was unemployed for some 10 months. So maybe it's now since the last few months as I've went back to school, started working again, and found myself a girlfriend.

@appariti0n: what specific maneuver induced your weight lifting injury and what injury was it? I got a partial triceps tear doing lying french ezpress extension and I was scared I would not regain full power, but I eventually did.

@SoNin360: how did you pay rent while being unemployed for 10 months?

I had a lot of money saved up. Perks of living with my parents until I was 21, I guess. That and being very frugal. I still don't make enough to cover my costs since I'm only part-time, but since I'm back in school I get loans to cover the rest. Hopefully it'll all pay off in the end if I'm making real money once I graduate instead of living off of some $10/hour job.

@multiplat: It wasn't a specific movement, rather a combination of a few things.

1. I was training to do a one armed chinup, and over developed my latissimus dorsi, without counter balancing the opposing muscle group.

2. I play badminton competitively, which uses a lot of overhead shoulder elevation movements

3. I hiked 3 hours with an 80 lb backpack where the waist strap wouldn't cinch tight enough for me, leaving the load on my shoulders rather than my legs.

4. Finally, I was really sick with a hardcore chest cold during the hike, and frquently having coughing fits. Pretty sure this was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak.

End result was a pinched nerve which paralyzed my serratus anterior (the muscle that keeps your shoulder blades flat against the rib cage), so all the muscles in my neck, like the levator scapulae and trapezius perma-knotted themselves as the body's response to compensate for the non functioning SA.

TLDR: a combination of things, I'm a 38 year old idiot who still treats his body like a 25 year old, and broke my own advice by not training everything equally lol.

@multiplat: Good to hear you fully recovered, must have been some serious weight to tear a tricep.

I was happiest before clicking this thread.... (joking)

Serious: Ages 0-12 and 19-23

Being a kid was awesome. Then early 20’s for drugs/alcohol/sex/parties/clubs.

Probably my childhood up until about age 12. Then life was all a never-ending steady decline ever since.

A couple my wife had. Always nice to find out your not a father before you're ready. Stressful though.