When were the best years of your life and why were they the best of times?

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2021 to 2023 most definitely! Not because i was younger(im 33 now) but i was living in city center on my own, working an extremely easy job literally get in get out with a decent paycheck but most importantly i just started dating the love of my life, quite literally the best person i've ever met, the most caring, stunning and perfect woman that i've ever met, sadly she changed her mind about having kids(we both were set on having none when we started dating) so after crying our eyes out for days we agreed that it would not be fair for her to sacrifice the need of becoming a mom which ultimately ended up with us breaking up. Years later and about two relationships later i still occasionally think about her but i know she is a very stable relationship on the other side of the world and that she fulfilled her biggest desire, having a baby. I guess loving someone is also prioritizing their happiness over yours? Idk life sucks at times man

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Delicious_Pomelo7162@reddit

Y4,5 & 6 (2009-12)

Life was just about showing up and behaving yourself. No need to take initiative in just about any way, shape or form - the adults were in charge of your life. That changed over time - as it must.

I was still doing very well academically - the sky was the limit for me. That changed soon after.

None of the other kids seemed to genuinely mind that I was weird. That changed soon after.

I didn’t have chronic health issues. That changed some years later.

And we had a cat.

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TheEnglishNorwegian@reddit

Now is pretty good. To be honest every decade has it's standout moments. Being a teenager was awesome, as was that period in my early 20's with a ton of money from working and the desire to just travel and have fun with friends. Then now in my 30's with a decent fun job, kids that surprise me every day, a loving wife and being a home owner with the ability to tinker on home improvements (renovating one of the bathrooms right now which is pretty fun).

But yeah, it's probably now, kids are awesome. Watching them learn and get into new things is great, the oldest just started Dragonball Z and is loving it.

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mashnsutton@reddit

I’m 24 and if I can make my 30s to look like that then I can’t complain. Time for me to get my head down and get to work. All the best to you and yours.

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No-Row-9994@reddit

It's really refreshing to see someone be positive about their kids on Reddit. I love this comment, thank you.

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Famous_Clerk_7529@reddit

Living that Norwegian middle class life 😄

Good for you.

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Terrible_Tap_4385@reddit

1994-2000. A-levels and university….which was free! Zero fees. 1996, britpop, Cool Britannia, the euros (it nearly came home). 1997, labour victory, a real sense of optimism. House music, raves, super clubs, ministry, gatecrasher, cream. Mitsubishis!!!!! The run up to the millennium. They’ll never be another period like it. I have subsequently married, had kids, career etc which are all fantastic, but in different ways. 1994-2000 I was 16-20. Peak years in a peak period. I feel blessed to have lived it. My dad, rest his soul told me about the summer of love in London (1967) and I feel ‘96 was our generation’s summer of love. ❤️

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Careless_Soup_109@reddit

I once worked a job in a dying industry. They hardly demanded anything from me! I probably did about 2 hours of work every day, and would show up to the office for about 6 hours a day, mostly to drink coffee and wait for my one hour lunch break.

At first, I was massively anxious they'd twig I wasn't doing much, and I'd be fired. Then, I decided to quit the job in about 8 months and relocate anyway.

Well... The next 8 months were some of the happiest times of my life. I'd flirt with a coworker, swim every morning, take life easy. In the evening, I'd hang out with my friends for dinner and drinks. Pay was quite good. What did I care if I they twigged I wasn't doing much? I was leaving anyway!

Now, within about 1-2 years it all went down, mass firings, etc, and I'd have been made redundant anyway. But as I'd worked hard since I was 18, and have worked hard almost ever since,having a few months to chill and enjoy a really easy but unsustainable job was pretty relaxing.

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lavayuki@reddit

Now, so thirties.

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Dear-Watercress-5278@reddit

2021-23, in my late 20s, had just moved in with my now ex in a town I loved, started a new job that was way less stressful than my previous one. Miss it 💔

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Historical_Owl2154@reddit

Now. I might be in my 40s but I'm in a stable and happy relationship, my kid is doing well, I have a good job and a steady income. Life is good.

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spinners_888@reddit

Probably 1996-98. I was in sixth form, started working out and lost weight, started going out, music was good. Great times. Unfortunately my uni experience sucked.

Then 2004-05 came out of depression and started living life again, went off travelling across East Asia.

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BG3restart@reddit

2015, the year before my husband died suddenly. We'd been married 30 years. The kids were grown and in good jobs, starting to leave home and make their own way. We finally had some disposable income and bought a holiday home abroad with a view to retiring there eventually. We'd started to see a bit of the world taking nicer, long haul holidays as a couple and were looking forward to winding down and enjoying more leisure pursuits in retirement in a few years' time. It's been 10 years and I'm fine, but I miss the life we should have had. They say you can't miss what you haven't had, but you absolutely can.

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steady921@reddit

This really made me stop and think, thankyou for sharing and i hope your ok

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TieSea3723@reddit

I’m sorry this is very sad. Do you mind me asking how your husband died? You don’t have to answer

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BG3restart@reddit

Heart attack. Post mortem showed he had heart disease, but no family history and was super fit, very strong, a regular gym bunny, so out of the blue.

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-C80-@reddit

I have a funny feeling I’ll look back when I’m old and see now as being the best time. My teens weren’t great, too many mistakes and bad memories in my 20s / 30s… my life in my 40s isn’t exciting but I’m loved and appreciated by my partner, I’m healthy, and best of all my girls are growing up into young women who have far better opportunities than I did. Life is settled, mortgage free and comfortable.

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Bertie1983@reddit

Sounds great from where I am and I hope you are content with it.

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-C80-@reddit

xxxxxxxxxooxxxxxxxxx@reddit

Right now in my 30s.

Bought a house, got a great wife, got a new cat. I’m (relatively) healthy. Could do with a more enjoyable job but life’s pretty good!

Although if you really pressured me, Christmas time around 5-6 years old when I still believed in Santa were probably my truly happiest most care free days.

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Sea-Still5427@reddit

It was fun being late teens in the early 80s. In terms of finding your tribe and expressing yourself through its style code, no decade since matches up. Gen Z style is the dullest I've ever lived through.

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JSHU16@reddit

Every time has been good for different reasons.

I liked the 14-18 period in college where you could do adult stuff and my part time job wage felt massive because I didn't have any overheads other than driving lessons, and all of the house partying going drinking shenanigans were novel and fun. There was the stress of A-levels etc but everything else was largely fun and exciting.

Uni was good too for similar reasons.

Adult life has been good in a different way, getting settled, fixing up a house and building a little family unit is a different kind of best that isn't as hedonic but more rewarding.

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mangonel@reddit

Very much agreed.

I miss the spontaneity of a youth with few obligations, but I love what my life is like now, and I'm very much looking forward to what it will be like when my kids are adults.

None of these times were better than the others, just great in different ways.

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vegan_voorhees@reddit

To date, mid-30s.

Jacked in our jobs, threw the dog in a camper van and drove around Europe for a year, chasing the sun.

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Party_Advantage_3733@reddit

My uni years. Had a great time, learned some stuff, drank some stuff, had lots of freedom and not many responsibilities beyond things I wanted to do anyway (study History). Met all my best friends and my wife there too.

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cbawiththismalarky@reddit

Now is the best time, after 40 each year was better than the last

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Scarred_fish@reddit

Exactly what I came here to say!

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EmptyStock9676@reddit

1000 percent this! People don’t know how lucky they are in the uk. Watch this documentary about the ship breaking yards in India for a bit of perspective https://youtu.be/5jdEG_ACXLw

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BElannaTorres74656@reddit

Same! Well, since moving to the UK 5 years ago at age 37. I didn’t realise how hard living in South Africa was on my mental health until I moved here. I’m under more financial pressure because I’m saving for retirement from basically zero, and I want to buy a house and house prices are insane, but I feel safe here. And for the first time in my life I feel like I’m actually living. Very, very grateful.

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Jambronius@reddit

I wish more British people would read this. Times are tough on a lot of us, but we are still more fortunate than a lot of people.

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MonkeyBoy697@reddit

2003-2012… left school, joined the RAF, spent 9 years here there and everywhere, had some great times and honestly regretted my decision to leave ever since 😂

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Bertie1983@reddit

Same here mate, but Army 2000-2006.

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Big-Advertising-5366@reddit

1996:

Passed my A levels
The emotional roller coaster that was Euro 96
Started Uni, with the enormous sense of freedom and possibility that brought

I was only pondering this same question this morning.

That said, truly hitting 40 onwards. A combination of therapy, CBT, learning to cope with my gremlins, learning the art of acceptance and realising that happiness isn’t a destination it’s how you travel.

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qqqqtip@reddit

2015-2020 secondary school

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Falloffingolfin@reddit

I was born in 1980 and it's really difficult to choose exactly, but it's broadly the 17 year period between 1985 and 2002 (when I graduated from uni).

Probably a similar age range to most people but elevated by the freedom I had as a kid in the 80s, and the privilege of coming of age in the 90s alongside the optimism, hedonism and alternative youth culture that we may possibly never experience again.

It's impossible for me to choose between the joy and adventure of being a kid, and the discovery, music, partying, laughs and girls of my teens and uni.

I graduated into the post 9/11 world and things were just never quite the same. We laughed less, the partying started to take it's toll, I felt heartbreak, I lost people I loved. Life got harder.

Life's great now. I have my own family and all the amazing moments that come with it, but still look back misty eyed on the 80s, 90s and Uni. The years I've chosen are probably similar to most people, but accentuated by the highs of them happening in the 80s and 90s, and elevated further by the comedown of the 00s and 10s.

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soverytiiiired@reddit

I’m 38 now and it’s pretty good. Work is alright, it pays enough and I’m content in my personal life.

Ages 24-30 was pretty fucking good as well as it was a period where I ditched all the stuff from my past (awful friend group, bad relationship) and found the people who are in my life today and it shaped where I am now. A lot of good times in those years.

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random_username_96@reddit

University, 100%

No major responsibilities, I enjoyed my course and studying, made my friends for life, loved the city I lived in. Wanted for nothing and had it all. Utter freedom. Living with/close to all my friends, who all had the same level of freedom. Good health, and the invincibility of youth. I miss it so much it hurts sometimes.

Now we all have jobs, responsibilities, and we're scattered across the country. Our health isn't what it was, and that's come much sooner than expected. We graduated into a world that quickly got shut down by a global pandemic, and everything has been going to utter shit since then.

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Fine-Night-243@reddit

1st year of uni probably. Got lucky with a great group of people in my halls of residence, fell madly in love and had first proper relationship, first time away from home so enjoying being independent, I was slim and handsome.

Following year the group fell apart, the girl dumped me and I gained a load of weight, but it was still alright. This was in the days when a UK university education was basically free.

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occasionalrant414@reddit

2010-2018. Was finishing uni, then met my wife, we had 8 brilliant child free and carefree years together. I worked a job I loved and passionately believed in and both sets of parents were healthy. Then I got made redundant whilst we were pregnant with our first. Then my dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons and hers with dementia, then covid, then 2nd kid, then current CoL crisis and whatnot.

We get the odd evening to ourselves for a couple hrs but that's it. We have not been abroad since we got married in 2017 - we are parents and I get it but God I miss the days when we could just drop everything and go on a weekend trip.

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heliskinki@reddit

Summer of 93.

Aged 21, at college during a time where you just had to cover living costs, not pay for the course.

Glastonbury ticket was under £60.

Smashing Pumpkins released Siamese Dream.

I had no responsibilities, a car, and zero stresses.

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UrMomDotCom666@reddit

I'm 19. Don't thinks happened yet, it's been pretty awful so far.

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iffyClyro@reddit

Now.

This is as good as it gets.

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Massive-Situation-85@reddit

Year 5, primary school. Normal sized primary school, but through some bizarre anomaly, we ended up with just 7 of us in year 5. This was around 2004.

It was 5 boys, me and my best friend. All of us got along really well, and we had a lovely young teacher who was full of enthusiasm and fun. It didn't really feel like school that year, it was more like hanging around with my best friends every day. No worries, no sadness, just kids being kids. Best year of my life.

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MarilynManson2003@reddit

2015-2020

I wasn’t suicidal
I was in High School
I had friends
My father was alive
I discovered 95% of my favourite bands/artists
Call of Duty was in its Golden Age

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Standard_Homework854@reddit

Moved abroad, met my future wife, made new friends and travelled to seven different countries

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One_Complex6429@reddit

They were in the 1990s before Britain's demise. Money meant something, freedom from big government, no social media, affordable houses, just! Though interest rates were high

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AndrewHinds67@reddit

Between 1993 and 1995. I was in my mid 20s. I had a girlfriend who was my world. We both passed our bike tests and found a social circle in that scene. I was really loving it at work. We used to go to bike rallies and gigs together. Life was wonderful.

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jimm3hshshsv@reddit

I'm lucky my life has always been good, but then i do try and find the good in whats going on. First relationship was good, after it I enjoyed the freedom of doing what I wanted, travelling a bit, life was still good, enjoyed that period for a good few years. Everyone has a down after a relationship ends but there's positives that come with it you can't see straight away. Then next relationship good, job got better, got more responsible but sometimes that has perks too, lucky enough to be a parent and have a good partner, life is still good, just different to what it once was. I often look back on good times but I'm content with them being things I did then and the memories I make now are things I'll no doubt look back on in time to come.

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Antique_Garlic9479@reddit

2014-2017.

Gaming

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ZeroCool5577@reddit

Right now nearly one year married with a really good healthy relationship with someone I consider my best friend. Have a mortgage nice home in a really nice town and have healthy lovely family and friends.

Sure some things could be better but overall these are the best times so far.

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ClockAccomplished381@reddit

Probably my mid20s as that was the time I started to mature a lot and at the risk of sounding vain was happiest with my appearance. I'd grown out of being a pasty youth with a horrible haircut, but not yet gone grey (which started late 20s) or put on much weight. I didn't have a great job but nor did I have many responsibilities. I guess you could say my mid20s were more like what a lot of people experience in their late teens / early 20s, I was a late starter with my teen years being more angst ridden and feeling ugly.

As you'd expect this also correlated with the time period I got the most attention from the opposite sex, I mean, that's obvious right but it did give me some regrets about not sorting out my appearance earlier and also in hindsight making me feel like I should've exploited it more.

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TraditionalScheme337@reddit

I think about 9 years ago. I didn't have a job i particularly enjoyed but I earned decent money. My wife was working a lot, she is younger than me and trying to work her way up as a solicitor. We owned a nice house and it was before we had a little one so we went away a lot, enjoyed our money and free time. Ah, it was fun.

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SquirrelIll8180@reddit

2004 to 2008. I was 19 in 2004. Moved out with my mates, had a job that was easy but paid the bills and allowed me to save. Took lots of drugs, played in a band, traveled internationally with my best buddies, traveled the country with my friend who was a pretty big DJ at the time so met lots of celebs and hotties, took voluntary redundancy in 2007, got a big payout, packed a bag and traveled the world alone.

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bloodgutsandpunkrock@reddit

Hindsight is a weird thing. I look back on so many periods of my life with nostalgia or longing to be back there, but the reality is, those times also came with massive negatives or now looking back, you realise how you could have done so much more in those passages of time with the knowledge you possess now.

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bambonie11@reddit

1997 to 2000 - was at university where I discovered most of my now best mates, had great music and it was pre September 11th, which I feel is the last time the world was normal.

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Necessary_Doubt_9762@reddit

I have a 5.5 year old and 6 month old baby. The last 5.5 years have been the very best years of my life and continue to be.

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stumperr@reddit

03-08

No bills, no work just fun with pals

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nfoote@reddit

The first 2-3 years at university. No need to plan for the future because next year is just more university. No need to worry about money cos you just don't have any and you don't have anyone but yourself to care for anyway. And you're young with limitless energy. And (at least where I went) entire city blocks all around you are just more uni students in the same position.

First year at uni in my memory lasted at least five years of constant parties and going out.

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GoanGeek@reddit

When I was born. Eat, sleep, poop and repeat. Bonus - free kisses.

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Blazured@reddit

The year I fell in love. Honestly didn't know it was possible to feel like that for someone, always just assumed it was like fancying them a lot, then I fell in love and it completely changed my perspective on so many things.

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PersonalityOld8755@reddit

I want to Australia for 2 years at age 30.. was the best 2 years of my life.

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Beautiful_Task3294@reddit

Same.

Happiest I think I ever have been was doing rural work, for the second year visa. Loved it.

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snowmanseeker@reddit

2007 - gap year, went travelling, started uni

2008 - went travelling

2017 - got married

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PatchcordAdams@reddit

University was amazing in 01-04. Cheap living. Huge social life. Loads of friends. Sports. Raves. Pub football.

Second best time is now - the polar opposite - quite life in a village. Dog walks. Nature. Pubs. Gardening. :)

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Global_Musician3374@reddit

1980’s, best time ever to be a teenager. The music, the clothes, the makeup. Great time to be alive!

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I-Spot-Dalmatians@reddit

Summer of 2016, I was 16, had just finished school, it was a hot summer, music was banging, I was spending most days down the park or beach with my mates, then shagging my way around the girls in our friend group in the evenings. No responsibilities and still lived at home. Just all round a great time

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