M: What things made you happy when you were a child?
R: Well, spending time with my family and friends, we used to make up these ridiculous games and scenarios to act out. Oh, I also used to get a kick out of playing on video games consoles as well, when I was younger.
M: What activities make you feel happy now?
R: Well, anything that makes me feel successful. So you know, doing exercise or completing all of my jobs for the day. Oh, and, well, seeing my friends. I also quite like getting nice messages on social media. It's a nice little dopamine hit. Although I wouldn't do it all the time, of course.
M: What kinds of people make you happy?
R: Well, I get a lot of enjoyment out of being with people that I'm on the same wavelength as. So, well, like the kind of people that you can just be yourself around. So in my case, that's, you know, cracking dark jokes, and having fun with my friends. That gets the endorphins going.
M: When during the day, do you feel happiest?
R: Yeah, in the mornings, when I've done my workout and all my little chores for the day, I just feel ready to go. Especially after a good night's rest.
M: Does food make you happy?
R: If it's nice food that I like, then yes. I doubt I'd be very happy if I were ordering bananas and raisins all the time. And I suppose I like ordering McDonald's and other kinds of fast food from time to time. Again, not all the time. I think I feel my happiest when I have really healthy food because you feel the energy coming. And you know that you're fueling your body with the right stuff for the day. So that's probably a more sustainable kind of happiness, in my case.
M: What do you do to stay happy?
R: Well, I read a lot, and then I exercise regularly and I have a job and friends that I love. You know, it's, I couldn't ask for anything more, really. It's like my own personal nirvana right now.
M: What would make you happy in the future?
R: I have no idea, actually. I think it was William Shakespeare that said the future is like the great undiscovered country. So that's why I don't really have a clue. If I'm pushed, then I like to think it will be continued success and, well, opportunities to be around the people that I like and do the things I love. That should do the trick quite nicely.
M: When do you feel happy at work?
R: I think when I get into that flow state, where everything's coming together, and you sort of time or the feeling or experience of time falls away, and you're really into what you're doing. And all the people around you are doing the same thing as well. I also quite like being in a workspace where I feel connected to the people I'm with. And we have a shared sense of humour. It almost feels like home in that sense. So I get a lot of happiness out of that.
M: Do you feel happy when you buy new things?
R: Everybody likes a little bit of retail therapy, don't they? although admittedly, in my case, and probably the case of many other people it's like a temporary high, but it's still nice when you buy things that you've wanted for a long time with money that you've worked hard to get. I think you get at least satisfaction out of it if not a little bit of elation.
