MY HAPPY PLACE
I talk a lot about happiness, but this bank holiday weekend reminded me why. I am lucky to have grandchildren now and spend as much time with them as possible. This weekend I had my two-year-old granddaughter stay with me and then spent the bank holiday Monday with her and her four-month-old brother. Why am I telling you this? Well, it’s because when I’m with my grandchildren, that is my happy place.
Happiness is a complex emotional state influenced by various factors, including genetics, environment, and personal experiences. The brain has a reward system activated when we experience pleasure or happiness. This system is primarily regulated by the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in motivation, reward, and pleasure. When we engage in activities that bring us pleasure, such as spending time with our loved ones, our brain releases dopamine, which reinforces the behaviour and makes us want to do it again.
In addition to dopamine, neurotransmitters such as serotonin and endorphins regulate mood and emotions. Serotonin is often called the feel-good neurotransmitter because it helps regulate mood, appetite, and sleep. Endorphins are natural painkillers released during exercise, laughter, and other enjoyable activities, contributing to happiness and well-being. Overall, the brain reward system and the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins play a critical role in our experience of happiness, so being that my Grandchildren are my happy place, I have said ill have them again next week, mum and dad are loving it, they get a well-deserved break, the children love it, they get spoiled, so everyone is happy