# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/141 "2015-10-21T02:48:28Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > And just think what you could have done with a PhD. You’re not kidding! No, wait, you’re **Drunky Smurf** , you probably _are_ kidding :smack: Anyway, yah, a PhD in math can be very useful when applied to the market. I read stories of quants making fortunes in key jobs at investment firms- these guys are basically mathematicians. It might take some training to get this kind of job, but the hard part, the math education, is already out of the way. **CCitizen** , you’ve said you hate math, but would you be interested in making large sums in the financial sector? I don’t think most people in these jobs are doing it for the joy, it’s the money. But the market can be like a math game; your dragons game sounds a lot like a math game to me. Playing math games with the market can be pretty similar only 1) market research brings you in contact with a lot of information about the world. It’s interesting and edifying, and 2) there are tens of thousands of dollars to be made. Even investing your own money with an on-line brokerage account could yield big if you focus. I agree with everyone recommending exercise. I don’t know what you weigh, but I’ve seen it come up. And obviously you are unhappy. Exercise can help you with both of those things. I don’t think it is the way the world _ought_ to be organized, but the fact (for me anyway) is that happiness is mostly a product of exercise. I’ve been in consistently great moods through hard times because of exercise- it’s pragmatic if you think about it. I used to have a sense of humor about my plight and joke about what a loser I was when I was at my lowest. Being lighthearted about things made it easy to take action to solve my problems and build a happy life. But even now that things are going pretty good for me, my mood is still mostly the product of exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/142 "2015-10-21T07:25:07Z")
Look at the case of [Mr. Hayes](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-14/was-tom-hayes-running-the-biggest-financial-conspiracy-in-history-). If you go into finance, stay moral, **CCitizen**. If you go bad, they will throw you in jail like anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/143 "2015-10-21T10:45:18Z")
A Ramones song was the first thing I thought of when I read the OP. _Happy happy happy all the time Shock treatment, I’m doing fine_ I am fairly happy. There are certainly things that could be better, but I am content with my life. I have a good job, good income, and good kids. Things could be a lot worse. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/144 "2015-10-22T00:37:54Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > A Ramones song was the first thing I thought of when I read the OP. > > _Happy happy happy all the time > Shock treatment, I’m doing fine_ I’m wondering if maybe shock treatments might be the answer for the OP. Sounds like he’s tried everything else. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/145 "2015-10-23T03:51:12Z")
Well, I was going to answer So-So, but compared to some people here, apparently I’m ecstatic. That shouldn’t make me almost giddy, but it does. With a feeling that I’ve dodged whatever bullets they’re been walking in front of. (Y’know, CC, when I’m not fulfilled, or even productive, that’s the logical result of decisions I’ve made. And I need to get off my ass and make some changes.) ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/146 "2015-10-23T14:51:16Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > For me, whether I’m happy or not depends on what time of year it is. From about mid-April to Labor Day I’m usually happy all of the time. From Early Fall through the Winter I’m so depressed I don’t want to get out of bed. It’s already started for me, I see everything outside withering and dying and I just want to sleep until May. I actually started crying writing this. > > If I had the money to move somewhere warm, I could garden year round, wear my flip flops, take my dogs for walks on a nice warm nights, I would be so much happier. My mom and I wanted to be moved for this Fall. We own a house we can rent out, that would pay for our rent somewhere else. When it came time to get quotes for a moving van, our hopes were dashed. We could swing first, last and security somewhere, but the $2,000 for the moving van isn’t doable too. ☹ OMG, girl! No. You are not going to stay someplace that makes you miserable over $2000. Absolutely not. Just get rid of your stuff, sell it, and go to your warm, happy place. You don’t need all that crap. Pack some clothes and go craigslist shopping when you get to the happy place. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/147 "2015-10-23T17:52:44Z")
I checked ‘happy.’ Nearly 7 years after we brought the Firebug home from Russia, I’m still in the “I always knew I wanted to be a parent, but I didn’t realize how much until it actually happened to me” phase. Even though we’re going through a rough patch these days with the kid, there’s never a day when I look back at my pre-Firebug life with envy. I have a wife I love very much, and a good-paying job I’m basically happy with, and where I’m getting recognition for having done a very good job with some difficult projects. My wife is going through some rough times of late, and that’s really the main reason I wouldn’t say ‘very happy.’ Her parents are in terrible physical shape in their early 70s, she’s got the main responsibility for looking after the affairs of her 90+ year old grandmother with dementia, her job really sucks these days, her own health isn’t good, and the Firebug seems to have figured out how to push her every last button. She’s really struggling with life right now, and needless to say that affects my own happiness and satisfaction with life. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/148 "2015-10-23T18:15:25Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I do a little. > > Any other suggestions? How to fill my lonely and empty time? Are you capable of basic mobiity? Could you help little old ladies carry their packages up the stairs? Could you cook dinner for someone who can’t do it themselves, or help someone clean their house? I’ve found that helping others helps me out of my own funk. You could start small. Call a local shelter or food pantry and offer to help stack boxes, or sweep the floor, or stir the soup. Helping other people is a great way to remind yourself that your life has value and meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/149 "2015-10-23T21:28:50Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > In general how satisfactory is your life? Did you achieve most of your goals? I am content. I’ve achieved nothing significant with my life, but really, few people do, so I’ve got over myself. I’m content that I’m a generally pleasant and good guy to know. I wanted to be a grandfather; I’ll be content to be a great uncle. I am content to grow old disgracefully. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/150 "2015-10-23T22:21:26Z")
All in all, my life is happy. There have certainly been bumps and bruises on the road, but overall I feel things eventually work themselves out, as long as I just weather the storm: I’ve certainly had dark periods, but my natural disposition is one of optimism. But I feel I’ve so far accomplished all that I’ve wanted to from my life. Some things can be better, but, overall, I’m more than content. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834/151 "2015-10-23T23:09:44Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > OMG, girl! No. You are not going to stay someplace that makes you miserable over $2000. Absolutely not. Just get rid of your stuff, sell it, and go to your warm, happy place. You don’t need all that crap. Pack some clothes and go craigslist shopping when you get to the happy place. I hear you, but I’d be bringing my 81 year old mother, who I provide care for. We would need our furniture when we there. She’s well past the milk crate coffee tables, and mattress on the floor days. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-a-happy-life/734834.md?page=7)