Letter: What it means to be happy in the New Forest…

I read with interest the letter from A Turner, Milford (A&T 21s March) regarding the shivering interest of pensioners as a result of being denied their winter fuel allowance by the present government. This prompted me to think of something I had read during the week.

Top of the Happiness Index is once again, for the eighth successive year, the country of Finland, citing access to nature and a strong welfare system with a culture of trust and connection among its people.

The UK ranked as No.23, going down three places from 2024 when it came 20th. When one thinks it doesn’t need rocket science to be happy though. It depends on just three factors:

1. The economy – a ready supply of those necessities in order to survive, and at an affordable price, and fair to all buyers and sellers. Being able to balance the books.

2. Society – to exist in a framework which allows all individuals to get on with one another in peace and respect, and to achieve their fullest potential.

3. The weather – nobody can deny that a nice warm and sunny day doesn’t cheer them up and make them feel better, but a drop or two of gentle rain during the night, of course, while sleeping comfortably and soundly in our warm beds, would be more than acceptable.

This indeed would be our Utopia… if only!

M Hill

Barton