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The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

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Edmund Hillary Mountaineer and explorer; first ascent of Everest, 1953
Those years from 1953 to 1975 were extremely happy years for me. I did many adventurous activities. I got deeply involved in these aid programs for the people of the Himalayas. I had a nice family, we took our family into the out-of-doors, we camped and we swam and we clambered around the hills. For me, it was a very full and a very happy existence.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Donny Osmond American singer, dancer, actor, television host
In 1971, I was sitting in a hotel room in London and there was a television chat show going on, debating whether Donny Osmond should be deported because of the chaos he was wreaking. And while I was watching this, there were fans on the street below, chanting my name. I was 13 and thought, “Does it get any better than this?”
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 July 2016 source ↗
Cerys Matthews Welsh singer-songwriter
Now, by far. Old enough to know time’s short, young enough to use it.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 July 2016 source ↗
Lance Black American screenwriter, director, producer and activist
The most unabashed joy I’ve ever felt was that first 24 hours of magic after our son was born in California last June.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 June 2019 source ↗

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