30s happiest decade?

According to a story in The Telegaph today, people are more content in their thirties than when younger, with 38 being the age at which people felt most content. What was your happiest decade or age so far?

I'm in my 30s and I've never felt better! ...according to this story I should be at my happiest next year! When I was a teen ager I couldn't accept myself, the list of my "if only I were" was endless... and as a matter of fact there was some work to be done on my bod...and now, after years of doing that work, in my 30s I'm at my fittest, this has given me a huge confidence boost. The way people view you is often a reflection of the way you perceive yourself, thus improving my self esteem has improved a lot the way people look at me, conscious of that now I can brush off my flaws as "yeah, I know I'll never be...but who gives a damn guys like me anyway!"

But it's not just about embracing your looks, when I was younger there were scads of things that I was drawn to but was too afraid to do, now in my 30s I'm doing these things, in my 20s I wouldn't travel alone and with pals not always available for trips it meant I was stuck in my hometown, in my early 30s I was like "hell, I'm gonna do something about it" and went on my first trip (to Paris) alone. I was so pumped up by the experience that I got hooked on traveling solo, that first experience unleashed my inner Indiana Jones and since then trips from the Far East (Japan, Thailand, Singapore....) and the US have been piling on!

I'm in my 30s and I've never felt better! ...according to this story I should be at my happiest next year! When I was a teen ager I couldn't accept myself, the list of my "if only I were" was endless... and as a matter of fact there was some work to be done on my bod...and now, after years of doing that work, in my 30s I'm at my fittest, this has given me a huge confidence boost. The way people view you is often a reflection of the way you perceive yourself, thus improving my self esteem has improved a lot the way people look at me, conscious of that now I can brush off my flaws as "yeah, I know I'll never be...but who gives a damn guys like me anyway!"

But it's not just about embracing your looks, when I was younger there were scads of things that I was drawn to but was too afraid to do, now in my 30s I'm doing these things, in my 20s I wouldn't travel alone and with pals not always available for trips it meant I was stuck in my hometown, in my early 30s I was like "hell, I'm gonna do something about it" and went on my first trip (to Paris) alone. I was so pumped up by the experience that I got hooked on traveling solo, that first experience unleashed my inner Indiana Jones and since then trips from the Far East (Japan, Thailand, Singapore....) to the US have been piling on!

I've heard celebrities say this quite a lot! I'm in my 20s and fortunately have enjoyed both of the decades! Great to know that things are only going to get better.

I hear a lot of people saying that in your thirties you are more self assured, have learnt lots of life lessons (and have learnt to actually pay attention to them) and can start enjoying life in a different way. This sounds good to me!

I think this might be true, although I'm, in my twenties by the time I'm in my thirties I reckon I will have made my mistakes and learnt how to save. Bring on my 30th!

I'd go along with that. I'm 33 and don't miss my messy twenties at all. Body is changing somewhat in not so great ways (hair is thinning, probably a stress thing) but mind is definitely healthier, so it seems a fair trade-off. 

I think I will still be making plenty of mistakes well into my 30s sadly, although I hope I'll have learned a few lessons! I'm slightly terrified of ageing however.

I am 42 now and I can say that I enjoy life much more at this age...maybe because I started to participte at these running races at 40! I have never felt better and I think the 40s decade is excellent. I am much more relaxed about things, very confident in myself and I am very fit. I did not run as much as I run now when I was younger!

The 20s and 30s decades were better only concerning friends. I had more friends I did go out more often when I was younger. But that's all that was better. Now I have my runnuing and all these travels because of the races.

Interesting, nice to see I have something to look forward to 

I'm nearing the end of my 30's and have to say that it is the best decade of my life so far.  I think that most people by their 30's have established a good base of friends and family, have a comfortable amount of money (OK, they might be struggling but are no longer literally on the bread line as they were when they were first setting up home), and still have good health.  Most will also have matured enough that they are more confident and more able to run with the bad stuff instead of stressing over it.

Obviously this is a huge generalisation and there are periods when things don't go to plan, but generally life is more comfortable and positive, and you ahve more control over your life and future.