Dear LPG, 

Here is a question that we should be able to answer by the time we are old enough to appreciate the pages of this website.

Are you happy? 

I found an interesting take on what happiness is based on a Japanese formula for achieving this state.   They call it ‘Ikigai’ and perhaps those of us who have their doubts about if we can answer the question with a resounding ‘Yes’, could learn a thing or two from their take on it.  The idea is that there are four aspects of life which we each need to fulfil to be truly happy.   

Firstly, you need to find something you really enjoy and secondly, it must be something that you have an aptitude for.  The third qualification is that it should be something which at least some of the people around you will appreciate.  As usual the internet always adds the financial aspect of achievement but, for most of us pensioners, that is not quite so important.   

At our time of life, we have had a lot of time to work out what we are good at and what we enjoy doing, and we have the added advantage that we, for the most part, have an income (even though it often could be a bit better) which will not be affected by what we do anymore, so all we have to do is follow the plan to be at least a bit happier perhaps? 

I think that, while taking into consideration that we older people need to do all these things at a slightly slower pace, those of us who are happy usually do not have time to ask the question because we are far too busy being immersed in things which make us feel happy, and that must mean perhaps that we have each achieved the single most important aspect of happiness.   

I truly hope that most of us are far too busy to have time to investigate the question, but the theory behind it might be of interest to some… 

AH, Ladywell.

AH offers a little information about Ikigai…

(►►►)   (►►►)     (►►►)    (►►►)

… she has also found a few online tests to help you assess your own happiness state…

(►►►)   (►►►)