| How often have you heard the cry "All I want is to be | | | | safe and doing no harm.)I had lots of animals around |
| happy?" Sometimes this has been followed with," | | | | me, dogs, sheep, and cows. I had wood pigeons and a |
| Surely, that's not too much to ask for?" | | | | bull finch called Hughie Stewart. I thought that they |
| Not too much to ask for. This suggests two things for | | | | knew me personally and their recognition made me |
| me. That the person thinks that happiness is an | | | | feel special. |
| entitlement and that it is someone else's responsibility | | | | 3.I had the ability to adapt to my surroundings. At home, |
| to give this or make this for them. | | | | I had toys, books, other people's dogs and friends on |
| I have had various periods throughout life when I would | | | | my terms. At Cumberhead, I had lots of animals |
| say that I have been happy and also other times when | | | | around and knew where to go to see foxes and |
| I have been unhappy. | | | | badgers. There were wild violets, berries to pick, smell |
| I began to think about the happiness question and | | | | of hay, brooks, opportunity for creative play, and cow |
| chose to look at my childhood in my quest for a | | | | platters! |
| possible answer. | | | | 4. I took what I could from wherever I happened to be. |
| My maternal grandparents lived on a farm which was | | | | I didn't hanker to go home. When it was time to go |
| very isolated. It was not on a bus route. After taking | | | | home, sometimes a couple of months later, I looked at |
| three buses then a taxi we would have to walk the | | | | this as something else to enjoy. I could take pleasure |
| remainder of the way over fields and dirt tracks to the | | | | from the moment I was in and not look for the |
| house. Until I was nearly seven, we spent a great deal | | | | problems. |
| of time there. Sometimes my twin sister and our mum | | | | 5.I was extrovert and creative. I took responsibility for |
| would go and dad would visit on a weekend. Often it | | | | my own enjoyment, physical and mental stimulation. I |
| was just my sister and I in the summer for 6-8 weeks | | | | invented games. I developed a scoring |
| at a time. The only people we saw were my elderly | | | | system for jumping in cow platters, based on how |
| grandparents and an uncle who lived there too. | | | | fresh it was the amount of crust on top and number |
| Other farm hands converged on us when it was | | | | of flies interested. No one was ever angry about the |
| lambing or dipping time. | | | | state I arrived back in. I would sleep during the day so |
| A grocery van came twice a week, as did a baker. | | | | that I could watch the badgers at night. I sometimes |
| The butcher came once a week and a drapery van | | | | slept in the barn so that I could be with a particular dog |
| twice a year. That was always a bit of an occasion! | | | | or an orphaned lamb. |
| We had our own cows for milk. I can't recall fish being | | | | 6.I felt safe. No one was ever angry .Everyone treated |
| a part of our diet. | | | | each other fairly. Animals were respected. I wasn't |
| There was a television which was switched on for | | | | aware of what was happening in the world but I knew |
| wrestling on a Saturday afternoonand twice a week | | | | I was in control of how my days were and I was |
| for Crossroads. This was such a big event that we | | | | never bored. |
| would all getwashed and scrubbed, then change into | | | | 7.There were large vegetable, fruit, and flower |
| our best clothes to sit and worship the box forhalf an | | | | gardens. Egg laying hens, milking cows, sheep. It was |
| hour. | | | | an environment that changed with the season and |
| We went to bed early and were up early. Papa would | | | | was always exciting to me. I was encouraged by as |
| knock gently on the bedroomwindow and meowed | | | | sense of constant springtime. A time of hope and new |
| pretending to be a kitten. We would always go along | | | | growth. Optimism pervaded life. |
| withthis charade in delight and rise to go find the cat. | | | | 8. I am sure life for us was different, perhaps even |
| I was deliriously happy! I am able forty years later to | | | | strange compared with that of our peers, but it had its |
| recall in vivid detail thisperiod of my life. | | | | own structure and a sense of security. I had a sense |
| To me, life seemed full of texture. Yet, I am sure that | | | | of purpose. My goals were realistic and achievable and |
| the majority of people wouldhave felt deprived leading | | | | not influenced by what others were doing or felt I |
| such a narrow type of existence. | | | | should be doing. They did not compromise my values. I |
| Why was I happy? | | | | only wanted to be with "my" animals. I spoke to them |
| 1.I was comfortable with who I was. There was no | | | | and enjoyed them at all stages. I was not criticised by |
| one around to compare myself with either favourably | | | | others for being so animal orientated. I packed as |
| or disfavourably.I thought as I wanted to and behaved | | | | much as I could into my day. I went to bed tired and |
| as I chose to with no negative feedback from anyone. | | | | satisfied each night and looked forward to doing it all |
| 2.I was often alone, but never lonely. I always felt | | | | again the next day. |
| particularly close to my grandfather and my uncle and | | | | If you are unhappy, it may be beneficial for you to |
| got the distinct impression that they enjoyed me for | | | | reflect on when you were last truly happy. Work out |
| who I was and I know that even back then I was | | | | the reasons why and see whether the rules you |
| somewhat "off the wall!" They were there whenever I | | | | adopted for yourself then can bring you happiness |
| wanted them but did not intrude on my time or tell me | | | | again now. |
| what I should be doing (in the knowledge that I was | | | | |