What was the best time of your life?

18: Started college, 25: Moved to NY, 39: Became a dad.

R1 str8?

School days even though I hated it then. Young and carefree.

25 was fantastic. I had a great job just out of grad school, amazing friends, lived by the beach, looked just like Paul Walker. Life was one big party.

33 was also fantastic. Was with the love of my life, had my own successful business, finally finished a novel.

That was the end of my happiness. I aged (40 now), the love of my life dumped me after a few years, the novel was published to great reviews but no one bought/read it, my business failed.

Oh well. Here's to a better Act 2 of my adulthood.

I miss the 80s and 90s. Those were the dacades of my childhood, my parents were still alive and the world seemed less insane. Sometimes, the nostalgia is painful, but I'm learning not to dwell in the past.

I moved to Cairo when I was 30 and took that town by storm. It was the best of times.

25. Mid 90s NYC. Dancing everywhere all the time. What happened to the clubs? 30s made money - thought I would be happier. But the freedom and fun of 25 - and NYC at the time - was in retrospect one of the most fun, carefree yet independent times in life.

25, had come out and stopped caring who knew, had close friends, tons of dates, a job I loved and my own apartment.. Felt comfortable with myself and free for the first time and it was a great feeling.

Just laying down in the backyard with my 2 cats, one on each side of me, both of them rolling over and over on the grass and rolling up against me, and the sunlight glinting off every single leaf of the entire tree above us, simultaneously. I remember thinking, "This is the best thing I have ever seen."

I finally just got married only one week before turning 60 (married to another man), so I would say right now is the best time.

My childhood and then my early to mid 20's. I'm 41 - so that tells you how life has gone.

Congratulations R10

No best "time" -Just moments: Watching the dolphins playing around the stern of the ship as we sail away from St. Lucia on my very first cruise. My first Broadway show (as an audience member), and my first Broadway show thirty years later -Actually working with Stephen Sondheim. London! The look on my mom's face when I gave her her very first brand-new (not hand-me-down) MacBook for Christmas. When a former student, daughter of a migrant farm worker whom I taught English in 3rd grade, looked me up to tell me she had been accepted into medical school. Co-presenting at a professional conference with the author I idolized as an undergrad, whose work I used in my thesis, and hearing him tell me how great my work was. Camping on the pampas of Argentina and looking up at all the stars. My first boyfriend. And many others that seemed to perfect at the time.

I hope to add to those moments before it's all over.

R2 - No! My partner (at the time) and I have a daughter via a surrogate. Why is this even asked? Gay men can't have children?!

It seems to have been when I was in college, undergrad and then two different graduate degrees. I love learning and it’s so purpose driven. It also breaks down to these manageable couple of months at a time, that then gets reset to start fresh all over again. I wish I could have just stayed an eternal student, I would be in my happy place.

R14 is ready to scratch eyes out.

R4 I want to read this novel.

The best of time is now

Best time, in what sense?

For me, each era of life has had its ups and downs. I miss being carefree like in my early 20s, but I really enjoy being financially stable. I can't choose "best" because even 2018 was damn good. 2020, on the other hand, blows.

OP, the best time of my life might be if I could buy you a cup of coffee and share some laughs. You're not old, and you're not alone!

November 1987.

Bump

Mid 70s through to the mid 90s. In 1974, fresh out of college, I was lucky to secure what became (although I didn't know it early on) a dream job, and I moved steadily up through the company that I would end up retiring from 33 years later. During those years it was an absolute joy to wake up every morning and couldn't wait to get to the office. In 1997 my function with the company changed to a senior corporate level for the last 10 years of my tenure. I learned how little people high up on the corporate ladder had to do, and I was not particularly happy during those years.

Now I'm almost 67 years old, retired for 13+ years, The most important daily decision I have to make is what time I'm going to take my nap. It took years, but I finally learned how to be happy, or at least content, with having little to do.

Childhood, when we had our own home and a cat and a garden with a ton of raspberries. I still think they taste like happiness. All the time I spent with my older brother, biking through the forest and playing video games and listening to music.

The last two decades have been shit but there are a few moments here and there that I remember as perfect. Like holding my niece in my hands for the first time. Watching the stars with my mom on a hot summer night.

And that time I woke up at my brother's place to find out both his 2 year old kid and his cat had crawled over me in the middle of the night and fallen asleep. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen and I was just overwhelmed with love.

Oddly the “best” time in my life is my 20s in my mind. But I’m happier and more content now in my 50s. Not sure why that is. Maybe I miss my looks, or the freedom to do stupid things - or the sense that there was plenty of time to accomplish all I wanted in life and everything was possible. Now it’s disappointing to realize I won’t be rich or have a “perfect” life - but being accepting of things as they are makes me much happier.

I agree R25. I'm in my forties and there's definitely a peace that comes with accepting and finding joy in things the way they are instead of pining for a more fabulous life.

Now.

My 20s. I'm now 40s and the last 15 yrs was underwhelming.

I'm 31, but the two best times of my life where from birth to about 10 years old. Things started changing as I got into middle school - school was harder, kids were meaner, there was too much homework so anything fun or creative had to be put on a backburner, etc. While there were a few bright spots in there, I wouldn't resist ages 10-18 to save my life. College was wonderful! I met the friends I've held onto since, had a ton of fun, felt a sense of freedom and independence for the first time in my life, and even learned a few useful things. I'm not thrilled about my student loan debt, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

After college, my 20's were a mess of self-doubt, trying to find my place in the world, meeting new people, realizing that no one has any idea what the fuck they're doing, dating horror stories, etc. By the end of that decade, I felt somewhat sane again, but it took most of the decade to get there, so I'm not sure I'd want to revisit those anytime soon either. Most people say your 30's and 40's are where it's at, so I'm eager to see if that's true.

It's so boring to say, but my childhood was pretty wonderful. I felt safe and taken care of by everyone in my family. You really do take that for granted once you get out in the real world and there's no real safety net. I don't think they prepare kids enough for that. They should spend less time on useless standardized testing and more on giving kids life skills. It's terrifying when you have to pay your taxes for the first time or accidentally bounce a check. I'd live in constant fear of being thrown into prison for something like that in my 20's. Maybe it was an irrational fear, but it was all so new to be that I didn't really know what all the rules were.

Interesting - guess it’s based on your childhood experience. The happiest moment in my life is the day I moved out of my parents house to live on my own. Even with the stress of work and bills and rent, I was so much happier than being stuck in that hellhole of misery and control.

R31 Same

Bump

Sometimes I wish I could go back and start all over again.

When I was 15. Life was so much fun. I laughed & laughed with my friends. We got high & found everything funny. We walked everywhere, since we couldn’t drive. We would walk to the next town over 3 or 4 miles to see our friends from their high school. I had friends who went to 5 different high schools, miles away from each other. I’d hitch or take a bus to my friends who lived 20 miles away. I went to a regional catholic high school that drew students from a wide area and I was met friends of my friends from the other towns.

Then my best friend’s brother committed suicide and nothing was the same. A lot of my friends didn’t come back to catholic school after sophomore year & I only saw them for a little while after that & then we all lost touch. I missed my friends who were gone & was saddened by my friend’s brother’s death. My friends who were still left became nihilistic after that and didn’t laugh much anymore,

“ Memories light the corners of my mind Misty water-colored memories of the way we were Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were Can it be that it was all so simple then Or has time rewritten every line If we had the chance to do it all again Tell me, would we? Could we? Memories may be beautiful and yet What's too painful to remember We simply choose to forget So it's the laughter we will remember Whenever we remember The way we were The way we were”

30-31. I had just moved to DC, and I had a job I loved. I was also probably at my peak physically, so I had a great time.. Then again in 2015 (at age 56) when I married the love of my life.

TBD. I'm 30. I had fun in my 20s, but I was miserable w/zero self-esteem. Now I like myself and feel more like a whole person, which will hopefully allow for happiness and a sense of peace.

That summer I spent in the Catskills. I had the time of my life.

I have a large family with whom I have a great time whenever we get together. I also have had the same great group of friends for many years. I have had so many fun times, laughs, great parties, and deeply meaningful experiences with all of them.

The one day that stands head and shoulders above them all is a day at a lake house. A big group of us--girls and guys, all young and full of life, and quite attractive--spent the day on the dock eating and drinking, finished off by a spectacular sunset happy hour followed by a great dinner that I still remember. We sang by a gib fire and got silly but not messy. It was glorious and it's my most precious memory.

The last 15 years. even this isn't so bad tbh.

My high school through college and then the five years post college were the best. It was a carefree time and everything was possible.

Age 30 . I was in a fantastic and loving relationship and we had just bought a house .I was at the peak of my attractiveness and health .We had plenty of money and enjoyed spending it . Tons of wonderful nights out and trips and dinners and events . I was so goddamn happy I was revolting to be around. It was the perfect year for me.

What happened R43?

College

Summer 96-98 aka my final 2 years of undergrad.

I was 20-22, hitting the gym like crazy, lived in SoCal and had just got my first car. Was getting laid like crazy with hot latino guys.

The music was so good then, too.

R44 all told we were together for 12 years then he died in a car accident. I was 34 and he was 37 . I said 30 because I remember it was a "big" birthday and I was just so happy . Everything seemed so perfect .And it really was .

Sorry for your loss R43. At least you have the amazing memories to reflect on.

R6 Napoleon

R49, that's funny.

Definitely now, to echo [R27].

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Now, at age 49.

During every wonderful fun time, it’s always tinged with some bad feeling, too. When I had freedoms I was poor, when I had money, I had invasive in-laws.

Now is fine.

It hasn’t happened yet.

As others have pointed out, even the "best" of times has negatives that you are dealing with. It is easier for me to identify "worst" of times periods of my life. That's because during the bad periods, it was really hard for me to appreciate the little bit of good there may have been. I'm just happy that I'm now in a "not worst" period for the past few years.

Summer of '63

Ages 17 to 22. Had a good job, my own car, friends, freedom and hope that I was on the start of a life I always wished I could have.

Then I lost my job and it all went to shit getting progressively worse with each decade.

The ten years I had with the love of my life before he died on me five years ago.

I'm late 60's and would have to say the last 30 years have been pretty awesome. Each decade has been better than the one that preceded it. I did not have a great childhood and didn't really discover who I was until I went away to college. My 20's and early 30's were a bit of a struggle but things started coming together for me in my mid 30's. I'm a 'glass half full' type and don't dwell on the negatives. Nothing's to be gained by living in the past.

Today.

Back in 1972 and 73. My husband and I were newlyweds. I worked for the legitimate theaters in SF. It was a joyful laugh-filled time. We were surrounded by talented, attractive, and fun people. I knew it then, that it would be the best time of our life. Life has been very good since, but those first innocent and free-spirited days were the most sublime.

I think the trick is to look for the positives everywhere. If you have your health, enough money not to starve, a place to live, and a few people who love you, you're doing just fine. I think we have to stop expecting every day to be like the first time we went to Disney World or something. If every day was like that, we wouldn't be able to appreciate them when they came around. It'd just be business as usual.

Even in the periods where I'd say I was incredibly happy, there were a few negative events or people thrown in there to try to piss on my parade. I can't think of any one time that was completely without strife, although, I suppose my childhood up until middle school was fairly close. I know my parents spanked me a few times for not behaving or talking back and there were some teachers and students who weren't very nice, but looking back, I can't really complain much. That was a very small price to pay for all that happiness.

I'm not one to dwell in the past, but it would be cool to re-live some of those early days. I wouldn't want to change anything, but I'd love to experience it again like a ghost on the sidelines.

R62 👍

Best time ever? When I was 38 and adopted my kid. Those years when he was little were truly amazing.

Now that he's an adolescent? Let's just say that I'm grayer and fatter and waiting until his college starts. (And I still love him).

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Are you on your periods, R66?

R30 I relate to that. Safety is the necessary ingredient I think for most the times I truly felt at peace. I had a great childhood in many ways, and felt safe and special and loved...in hindsight, I realize I was blissfully unaware of the troubles brewing all around me. But to answer the question, I'd say just before entering high school. High school itself was okay, but everyone around me seemed to implode for various reasons. My sense of safety evaporated. When I was young and everyone seemed happy and well, it was easier to dream bright futures for us all. I miss those dreams. I've found it very hard to dream since. It feels wrong to plan my happiness when people I care about are unhappy - making adulthood a struggle. I was lucky though for those days. I hope to find something like it again, if I can.

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My 21st birthday. Still closeted, but with good friends and a great life. Also, my early 30s, when I had finally come out to my parents (this was the early 1990s in the midwest) and my career was going great.

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Who’s in the midst of having a really bad period?

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The day I got rid of that horrible burden was the best day of my life.

"It's better to want what I have, than have what I want."

For a late 50s addict in recovery (alcoholism, gambling), those words mean everything to me. I'd say now is the best time of my life.

But, oh, "Yesterday, when I was young..."

[quote] Who’s in the midst of having a really bad period?

r66, r69, r71 and r73 by the looks of it.

22yo. 1985. Cross country trip to LA. Fucking under the stars. Honey do my hair. Brucetopher.

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I took a year off from my "career" a few years ago (in my late 30s) to go back to school for another master's degree in a slightly related field to my work. Decided to do it at a university in the UK since I wanted to live overseas at some point in my life. It was fucking fantastic. Like being on summer vacation for a year. Hanging out and binge drinking with college kids almost half my age, travelling around Europe and Africa during breaks, not giving a shit about the normal college stuff but just enjoying being in the moment. I was actually a good student for the first time, too - did the readings and research and had the best time in class. Then I came home and picked back up into the normal office doldrums. I've been thinking about it a lot while sitting in quarantine.

R79, If I get laid off from my job due to the pandemic, I'm thinking of doing just that. I have no spouse, no kids and I don't own a home so there's no financial obligations stopping me from going back to school and starting a new chapter. I'm a little nervous about being unemployed, but if it should happen, I will try to look at the positives. Thanks for sharing your story.

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