I have become progressively happier as I’ve got older. It’s to do with not striving as much.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 June 2022 source ↗
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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Others on this question
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Rhys Ifans
Welsh actor and musician
I look at my nephew, who is five years old and in a perpetual state of bliss; I imagine that’s what I was like when I was five. That’s not to say I am unhappy now; I was on top of the world walking through a park to work this morning.
Erin O'Connor
English model
French kissing on Tower Bridge under a full moon in the wee small hours.
Douglas Stuart
Scottish fashion designer and novelist
The summer of 1997. My husband, who is an American, gave up everything to come and live with me in Edinburgh when we were students, and we were so skint but we had so much fun.
Joyce Carol Oates
Novelist, short story writer and essayist
On two dates: 23 January 1961 and 13 March 2009 (my two weddings).
More from Ardal O'Hanlon
View profile →I’d like a manoeuvre called after me, in the way Heimlich has.
Lack of self-doubt.
My dog wanting to go out for a wee.
Sharper knives.
The day I had to stop playing football five years ago. I realised I couldn’t hack it any more.
People laughing at me, which is terrible for someone who makes a living out of making people laugh.
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