Age and happiness

In new survey of 40 year olds in Britain, picked age 33 as their most rewarding and contented year. They felt life was more fun and most felt optimistic about the future. Only 6% felt they were happiest in University and 16% in childhood. Family and friends were listed as life’s biggest joy and one in three said children were their greatest source of happiness. Age 33 sees the end of the turbulent teen years while preserving the courage and enthusiasm of youth.

Another Time magazine report zeroes in on age 46 as the year where people experience increasing levels of satisfaction as they move towards the golden harvest years into their 80s. Acceptance of the passing years can be a relief. The reason can be the death of ambition and the birth of acceptance.

“Being an old maid, like death by drowning—a really delightful sensation when you ceased struggling,” a gem from a Edna Ferber book. Perhaps acceptance of ageing itself is a source of relief. “How pleasant is the day”, observed William James, an American philosopher, “when we give up striving to be young—or slender.” Retiring early however has nasty side effects. Men retiring a year early, lower their odds of surviving to age 67 by 13%. Most of those dying are those forced into retirement by job loss. Those who are more prone and guilt, anger and anxiety are tend to be unhappy. People who enjoy interacting with others are happiest.