By Elaine Viets
What made you happy in the last 24 hours? What about the last three months?
OK, I’ll go first.
A surprise gift of orchids from a friend. And the silly antics of my cat Vanessa. Both made me happy in the last 24 hours. They’re pictured below.
In the last three months, the weekly phone calls from my cousin Lisa made me happy.
These questions are important not only for our well-being, but to understand how writers create our characters. I read about happiness in a recent article in The Pudding, and if you don’t subscribe to this free newsletter, you’re definitely missing out on happiness.
Writer Alvin Chang’s Pudding article “mapped out 100,000 moments collected as part of a research project on what makes people happy. From sensory pleasure and serendipity to leisure and personal growth, he identified the major themes that emerge when we think about our most cherished moments.”
Here are few that may make you smile, especially the first one:
“My boss was away on business which made my workday very enjoyable and left me with a smile on my face all day.” Female, 36, married, parent
“I went to see my Grandma at the nursing home.” Male, 26, single
“My husband was ignoring me and I laid in bed thinking of funny words with the word ‘sass’ in them to describe him (like Sasquatch) – it amused me greatly.” Female, 26, parent
“I got to leave work early on Friday.” Female, 53, single, parent
“I took a day off to enjoy a nice day.” Male, 38, mot a parent
“Enjoyed a Hardboys Peach Country hard cider.” Male, 32, single, not a parent
“I made progress on some household projects.” Female, 22, married, not a parent
“I was able to stay home and work, while my brother-in-law picked up the kids from school by switching his schedule.” Female, 37, married, parent
Scientists used to believe that happiness was U-shaped. “We are happy when we’re young, less happy when we’re middle-aged and then happy again when we’re old.”
Chang mentioned a research article by Arthur Stone that surveyed people between 18 and 85. It said, “Stress and anger steeply declined from the early 20s, worry was elevated through middle age and then declined, and sadness was essentially flat.”
But hold on . . . that U-shape may no longer be true. Another story says, “Pooling Global Minds data across 44 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, over the period 2020–2025 we confirm that ill-being is no longer hump-shaped in age but now decreases in age.”
So the middle-age slump is out. The twenties are a rough time. The reason for this is sad: “the deterioration in young people’s mental health both absolutely and relative to older people.”
Once you get through your difficult 20s, your chances of happiness increase.
When Harvard researchers followed people for their entire lives, Alvin Chang wrote, “they found that good relationships were the most important thing for happy, healthy lives.” We need a “meaningful life with a sense of purpose.”
That makes sense. Except social media and smart phones have made us addicted to screens from a young age. “It’s taken a toll on how much time we spend with each other.”
Alvin Chang included a “happy map” with his article. Check it out here. https://pudding.cool/2026/02/happy-map/ he says it’s “a mirror of the broken world we’ve built, as seen through our most cherished moments.”
What makes your characters happy?
Now in paperback: Sex and Death on the Beach, my new Florida beach mystery, is now in paperback. If you read it and like it, you’ll make me happy. https://tinyurl.com/3ut3chuu
It makes me happy when my granddaughter puts her phone down and spends time with me. I sure wish she would do that more often. But….
It’s a start.
Elaine, in fiction we intentionally put our characters through lots of trouble so it’s good to remember this counterbalance of happiness.
Some happiness items on my list:
Sex and Death on the Beach made me laugh.
Zumba is a fun way to exercise.
Yakking about writing with fellow authors lights my brain up.
My characters are happy when their blended families are gathered together and getting along. Of course, that doesn’t happen often!
I like your quote about remembering the counterbalance of happiness for our characters. Talking about writing with other authors, inspires me, too. Glad you liked “Sex and Death on the Beach.”
Love this, Elaine! At least 30 baby crows (lost count at 30) landed in my yard yesterday. So cute! Adult crows gather in large numbers to share information, but I didn’t realize the fledglings did it, as well. It thrilled me to know their parents marked my yard as a safe place for their young. Watching and listening to their chatter was the highlight of my day. I also finished a project for a paid writing gig, which also made me happy. 😀
Wish I could have seen those baby crows — they’re so clever.
Focusing on one series with recurring characters:
Gordon is happy when his Chief Stuff is finished and it’s a slow day for crime in Mapleton. For Angie, it’s coming up with new recipes.
They’re both still in the newlywed stage. Enough said there.
Not only are your characters finding happiness, Terry, you’re enjoying your creativity.
I’m probably happiest I’ve ever been. My daughter came for an overnighter and my SO flew me to lunch.
My characters are happiest when they’re successfully solving crimes.
Did you fly to Lambert’s in Sikeston, MO for lunch, Pat?
Lambert’s, the home of the throwed rolls? I love that place.
Yes, Lambert’s the home of the throwed rolls!
It’s a favorite place for private pilots in the area to go. If you fly in to the Sikeston airport, they will send a car to pick you up and seat you immediately.
I was there years ago. So much fun.
TKZ readers, if you’re ever in Sikeston, Mo., the servers THROW wonderful homemade rolls at you. Well worth the trip.
No, I’m in Florida, but I’ve been to Lambert’s and the rolls are sooo good!
Yes! Lambert’s always makes me happy.
How exciting, Patricia. Stay happy — you and your characters.
Such a wonderful post, Elaine!
Today is my birthday, my 65th in fact, and I am so happy to be here with all of you.
Then there’s my wife, making sure we could be together today, and our new cats, Maeve and Moxie who constantly make me happy whether they are cuddling together, playing or even getting into a little trouble.
Last week for three full days and one morning I worked on my fourth mystery while at the Rainforest writers retreat and drafted over 14K, along with 2K on a weird mystery short story and also wrote four micro-fictions, which all made me very happy. It was a joy to playing with words and hanging out with fellow writers who were also happily word smithing.
May today bring a happy episode or three to everyone here!
Happy Birthday, Dale!
Happy birthday, Dale, and congratulations on a successful and creative writing session. Enjoy your time with your wife and your new cats.
“We need a meaningful life with a sense of purpose.” Yes. Creating stories that reflect what I believe makes me happy.
My characters are happy when their persistence is rewarded, they finally solve the puzzle, and justice is served.
You’ve found the secret, Kay.