# Do you live a happy life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834 "2015-10-16T18:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![escaped](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@escaped](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/escaped)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/81 "2015-10-18T18:41:41Z")
so - so ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/82 "2015-10-19T01:28:10Z")
See user name. Says it all. There was a time… It ended in 2001. Going downhill ever since. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/83 "2015-10-19T01:32:18Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > See user name. > > Says it all. > > There was a time… > It ended in 2001. Going downhill ever since. Thank you for sharing. Was I ever happy? Maybe I was happier then now. Maybe unhappiness is forgotten easier then happiness. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/84 "2015-10-19T16:02:55Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I worked hard. I used my college minor in math to succeed modestly in the stock market, And just think what you could have done with a PhD. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/85 "2015-10-19T16:07:27Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > $240/month. I do not remember how much I earned then. Now I have an internship – since 2009. They pay $2,000 – $3,000 a year. I keep most of it and also get an allowance. $240 a month equals $60 a week. Are you sure you have a PhD in math? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/86 "2015-10-19T18:39:31Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > $240/month. I do not remember how much I earned then. Now I have an internship – since 2009. They pay $2,000 – $3,000 a year. I keep most of it and also get an allowance. Really, an internship? Not a post doc? That internship, assuming it is full time, pays a lot less than minimum wage. You sure about this? ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/87 "2015-10-19T18:46:09Z")
I had what I would call a very happy life for many years. But when I lost my soulmate, that changed. I still have happy moments, I still take pride in my work and my achievements, I love my sons and my grandbaby and my dogs, but if I’m candid, I’m not a happy woman anymore. I would say I’m relatively content. But the joy has left the building. I think that’s a fairly common sentiment for a widow pushing sixty. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/88 "2015-10-19T18:56:30Z")
Any day above ground is bitchin’ by me. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/89 "2015-10-19T19:40:31Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > $240 a month equals $60 a week. Are you sure you have a PhD in math? I have a mostly unpaid internship – with irregular project opportunities which pay $2000 – $3000 at a time. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/90 "2015-10-19T19:41:33Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Really, an internship? Not a post doc? That internship, assuming it is full time, pays a lot less than minimum wage. You sure about this? Mostly unpaid internship. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/91 "2015-10-19T19:44:20Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > $240 a month equals $60 a week. Are you sure you have a PhD in math? You go by lunar months? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/92 "2015-10-19T20:51:28Z")
I have reached my goals, and I think I can be considered a success. But I’m not happy. Life is mostly a chore I want, and need to do well. When I think I çan make it, I’m tired but content-for-five-minutes; When I don’t think I’ll make it, I’m stressed and nervous and procrastinating and out to blame someone. What makes me happy? Reading, spending time with my few good friends, walking in nature, animals, short-term projects, helping people. What could be better? I want to feel more joy in the relationship with my husband and son. I want to stop being neurotic and critical of myself. I want to want to exercise. Everyone says that helps, and yet I just fu\*ing can’t make myself do it. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/93 "2015-10-20T00:02:43Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Mostly unpaid internship. In my understanding many unpaid internships have the requirement that the intern get school credit to make up for the lack of pay. Since you are a bit beyond needing that, you might check your local employment office. If you do projects as a contractor that is one thing - then you should be able to look for another job also. If they expect you to be at work for that pay, you might do well to consult a lawyer. If you are doing freelance work, you are not really an intern. And you have the option of trying to negotiate for more money. Or using your work to get other freelance work. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/94 "2015-10-20T01:11:18Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > In my understanding many unpaid internships have the requirement that the intern get school credit to make up for the lack of pay. Since you are a bit beyond needing that, you might check your local employment office. They offer jobs for minimal wage. My parents insist I should work on my internship – why should I take a minimal wage job? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/95 "2015-10-20T01:15:42Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > My parents insist I should work on my internship – why should I take a minimal wage job? Because it pays more than $3000 a year?? I think your parents are playing a big role in your stagnation. They don’t want you to ever grow up, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/96 "2015-10-20T01:18:47Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I think your parents are playing a big role in your stagnation. They don’t want you to ever grow up, it seems. I do not know – they support me and give me a good allowance. And they think I have been working all these hours today. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/97 "2015-10-20T01:27:39Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I do not know – they support me and give me a good allowance. And they think I have been working all these hours today. Would they be happy if you found a well-paying job that you enjoyed and found your own place to live? Is that something they would support or do you think they would want you to stay home, working on this internship and getting an allowance? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/98 "2015-10-20T01:30:51Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Would they be happy if you found a well-paying job that you enjoyed and found your own place to live? Is that something they would support or do you think they would want you to stay home, working on this internship and getting an allowance? I honestly do not know. But I have no hope for a good paying job. Thus I will not waste my energy looking for such a job. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/99 "2015-10-20T01:50:27Z")
If that’s how you feel why not use your extra time, when you’re not working full time, managing a family or relationship, to do some good works? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/100 "2015-10-20T01:54:32Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > If that’s how you feel why not use your extra time, when you’re not working full time, managing a family or relationship, to do some good works? Many users on SMDB have contributed to the fact that I am here. While I am here, over at [Runescape](http://www.runescape.com) innocent villagers are being destroyed by Steel Dragons and Mithril Dragons. PS. Seriously, can anyone give me a good idea how to spend my time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834.md?page=6)