What makes you happy?

The science of pleasure is an actual field of research at the Oxford University, and scientists can now log how our brains react to things we enjoy.

Regardless of this broadened question that possibly has a million answers, I ask people what is it that makes them happy? Is it success? Is it a new car? Is it all the money in the world? I ask real people in Huddersfield town this very question.

Angelina Damacus, 18 said: “my friends make me happy, they are always there for me when I need them. As an international student from Romania I have many friends from around the globe, I stay in contact with them via whatsapp and skype”.

Maria faye, 23 sales assistant, agrees “my friends and family make me happier than anything else, I live with two of my best friends, and walking distance to my parents house, they are always there when I need them”.

Alan Hemming, 41 said: “as a fund raiser what makes me happy is protecting animals against cruelty, collecting money on their behalf, something they can benefit from brings me such joy”.

Sue Tetley, 56 said: “my husband and my grandchildren are the apple of my eye, I am retired and I see them everyday, my life revolves around them”.

Kayleigh Ann, 25 graduate also agrees, that family is the most important thing, and her three cats make her very happy”.

Michael George, 59 full time mature student said: “getting my essays in on time makes me feel happy, I feel as though I am prepared and have fully worked myself for a good grade”.

Caroline Soil, 33 fulltime mother said: “My family make me happy, not working and being home with my children is enough, there my life”.

So what generally makes people think they are happy? is it showing companionship and helping others or is it simply just being an optimistic/ positive person. Maybe it is people that have strong ties to friends and family, people that grew up in homes with intact marriages.

According to my research most mentioned their friends and family. Does that mean the things we strive for in our everyday lives such as money, a car, a new dress you saw in a shop window etc. do not make us happy? Absolutely not, but those things can often disappoint.

What we need and want is someone to console in, someone to lean on sometimes, someone to love us whether that is your partner, friends and family or a beloved pet, that’s all we really want.