How happy were you yesterday? Why am I asking this question? Well, the UK government decided a couple years ago they need an annual Happiness Survey.
The British Office of National Statistics (ONS) asks four questions in order to measure the country’s well being. One of them is: “Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?” The other three questions touch upon satisfaction with your life, whether things you do in your life are worthwhile and whether you felt anxious yesterday. Answers are given on a scale of 0 to 10. So utterly wretched to over the moon.
The ONS argues that ‘yesterday’ might vary among individuals and not be a typical day, but, since they quiz 165,000 people across Britain and Northern Ireland, the differences ‘average out.’
Last year’s study showed that people in Northern Ireland were the happiest while Londoners were fairly miserable. Apparently the happiest people in the nation live in the remote Scottish islands of Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Orkney and Shetland.
This week the ONS told us that commuters were unhappy. Really? They’re not jumping up and down with joy when they squish themselves into a crowded train or bus every morning? Ah ha! There are a lot of commuters in London but dare I say very few in the remote Scottish islands.
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” John Lennon.
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” Oscar Wilde.
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.” Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar.
“I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.” Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.
Best time to ask a British top brass whether they were ‘happy yesterday’ is after they attend happiness lessons this month organised by UK’s Ministry of Defence. During a one day course senior military officers will learn how to become “happiness activists.”
Yesterday I was happy when I was cuddled up with my two children reading. I was rather miserable picking them up from school in freezing sleet. Was I happy then yesterday? Or would my feelings have changed depending on what time of the day you asked me? I know what my answer would be if I had been relaxing on the beach watching my children play and run with joy in the sand.
After all, what makes us happy?
I had a look and it seems every study about happiness comes up with different answers. Childless couples have happier marriages but women without children were least happy according to recent research by Britain’s Open University. Some say the rich are happier others say they’re not. And so on.
Have a look at the posts when Sara in MumturnedMom asked bloggers to respond to her Prompt: “Happiness is anyone and anything at all loved by you” from the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. (I am linking up with the Prompt too).
“Happy thou art not; for what thou hast not, still thou striv’est to get; and what thou hast, forget’est.” William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.
“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan.
“Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.” Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby.
So, what would your answer be if they called and asked you today…were you happy yesterday?
I was happy for most of it, then my husband said something really, really stupid that peed me off for the rest of the weekend! I think you are right happy can change from moment to moment. Love those quotes you have slotted in to your post.
What a fab take on the subject of happiness. I really enjoyed reading this post so thank you and yes, I was very happy yesterday. #ThePrompt
It was Valentine’s Day yesterday, not a big fan. But I was very happy when my husband also bought my daughter her first ever bouquet (she loves flowers). The look on her face was priceless and made me soar! Yes, I was happy yesterday.
That’s lovely – I just can imagine her happy look!
Interesting post! I was happy yesterday but I was in a right old grump for most of the day today (for no real reason!) so if anyone had tried to ask me to complete a survey today I’m not sure what response I would have given them! I love that John Lennon quote too! xx #theprompt
You always take a really interesting angle on a Prompt, I love the mix of facts with your own views. Some lovely quotes in there, especially the John Lennon and Dickons ones. As for your question… Was I happy yesterday?! Well, yesterday I had to pack and then get to the airport in a blizzard, which was rather stressful, but we made it, so I was rather happy about that 🙂 As Sam says, it’s all relative isn’t it? I think perhaps the trick is noticing the happy moments. Thanks so much for linking to #ThePrompt x
Yes I think if you stop and think about the happy moments you can get a better understanding of what makes you happy. You must be happy seeing family now!
I agree – not sure how they measure happiness. Lennon’s quote is lovely.
Interesting post Kriss. I guess I was relatively happy yesterday. And there’s the problem with surveying people on their levels of happiness – its all relative. I can’t help but think that not only are there less commuters in the Scottish Isles but there are also less people full stop! There are a lot less people in Northern Ireland too. I love John Lennon’s quote.#The Prompt
I’m pretty happy most of the time but given the flooding and bad weather we’ve had since Christmas I’m not sure the rest of the country will be answering the survey so positively!
Makes me wonder if they check the weather forecast before carrying out the survey 🙂