ListNook

ballzsweat Apr 1, 2026 +16

Sacrificed happiness a long time ago for security later.

16

Golfnpickle Apr 1, 2026 +7

Me too. I worked my butt off from 20 to 55 while being a single parent. Retired at 56. I’m now 67.

7

vlvlv Apr 1, 2026 +3

worth it?

3

ballzsweat Apr 1, 2026 +2

It’s all relative, what could have been and what will be cannot be seen….

2

Animal40160 Apr 1, 2026 +2

For me, yeah! Now I have peace and security now that I'm old and weaker. The happiness was always temporary anyway.

2

Golfnpickle Apr 1, 2026 +1

Absolutely! I had a many years where I worked 7 days a week though. All I do now is enjoy life. I golf & travel & have fun. I feel guilty for being gone so much while raising my son though. But, I also got him through college without any loans.

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +2

Only another 24 to go until you’re even. Hope you make it to 91.

2

Terrible-Squirrel961 Apr 1, 2026 +8

I think when life sucks it brings you maturity and dealing with the problems , I might choose secure later coz I have to deal with the shits rn meaning secure later is already chosen for me

8

OkLeg4453 Apr 1, 2026 +6

Lowkey that’s a real take, but don’t let life gaslight you into thinking suffering is the *only* path to security.

6

Terrible-Squirrel961 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Life's wild, taking it one step at a time

1

ScaredAssumption5707 Apr 1, 2026 +4

The real answer is neither. Most people who chase happiness now are actually just avoiding discomfort and most people chasing security later are just avoiding living. Different flavor of the same fear.

4

Neither-Employee6848 Apr 1, 2026 +3

I lean toward being somewhat happy now while still building for later. No guarantee of the future anyway. What would you all prioritize if you had to pick one

3

ClimateWren2 Apr 1, 2026 +1

With climate change...we are off the known human map. I am socking away for later, but also choosing joy and resiliency now...with a plan to massively downsize soon. Crossing my fingers for us all, but it's gonna get rougher.

1

Neither-Employee6848 Apr 1, 2026 +3

🙌🏼🙌🏼

3

Last_Repair8741 Apr 1, 2026 +3

Happy now

3

Fibercon3737 Apr 1, 2026 +3

Most of us sign up for secure later. Many people have jobs they tolerate in the hope that things will get better. We work for 50 years and hope for secure retirement. We are really a bunch of dumb people. I think you’re better off getting away from corporations and get off the grid.

3

Decent_Garbage414 Apr 1, 2026 +4

Of course I'll choose happiness now, because the future is so foggy, especially considering how wars, viruses and all sorts of nonsense are flaring up

4

Terrible-Squirrel961 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Yup you're right but these are some things that we have no control over. But when you're already cooked you can't choose T_T

1

AdHuman747 Apr 1, 2026 +2

I think it's most desirable to focus on the present right now. The future is not guaranteed.

2

Odd-Client6091 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Given how the world has been going lately, ‘later’ feels like a DLC that might never be released. I’m choosing happy now

2

Anxious_Pumpkin_5629 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Happiness now for sure. It's what I chose when I reduced my working hours. Being miserable every day for ~45 years just so I can be secure in my old age is a bad deal. I could be a complete wreck by then, not able to enjoy it. I could be dead by then for all I know.

2

queenofwinks Apr 1, 2026 +1

id pick happy now. secure later is just fear wearin a tie. you can chase stability forever and wake up at 60 wonderin where the fun went. give me the chaos today, im along for the ride

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +1

Or never wake up at 60 at all.

1

mrsnowplow Apr 1, 2026 +1

secure later. there is a lot more i can change to be happier now than i can to be more secure later i suddenly become more secure once i have put in the effort to be more secure later i can always trade that out for happier now. if i go happier now i cant really made that trade the other way

1

Traditional-Film4160 Apr 1, 2026 +1

security matters because stress later can destroy peace of mind

1

Objective_Suspect_ Apr 1, 2026 +1

Rich or happy? Rich

1

Plane-Promotion-3962 Apr 1, 2026 +1

i’d lean toward secure later, but not at the cost of completely losing happiness now

1

Inevitable_Foot_9387 Apr 1, 2026 +1

life feels better when u don’t feel like u’re constantly sacrificing one for the other, so better be balancing both

1

Extreme-Pirate1903 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Depends on the nature of the happiness. If it’s pleasure, then secure later is the priority. If it’s happiness deriving from personal and emotional fulfillment, the maybe happiness. As long as ignoring the security doesn’t risk the happiness down the road.

1

AlertWar2945-2 Apr 1, 2026 +1

How much later?

1

Stinkinhippy Apr 1, 2026 +1

I've chosen happiness and free time over security.. working well for now.. will regret it in 20 or so years when i retire probably.

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +1

If you live that long. Or maybe you do, but only have to endure it for a little while. Makes the prior 45+ years seem like a fair trade. And hey, worst case scenario, you live a long time with a lot of happy memories to look back on.

1

Stinkinhippy Apr 1, 2026 +2

That is the hope at least :)

2

marting04 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Your future is not guaranteed. Live now you could be dead tomorrow! Trust me I've had one stroke and it was one stroke that killed my old man.

1

TorchlessPath Apr 1, 2026 +1

Delayed gratification is one of the biggest challenges people struggle with, but would provide the highest rewards.

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +1

Not necessarily. You could be dead or crippled before the reward pays out.

1

TorchlessPath Apr 1, 2026 +1

Yeah, there's always that very minor risk - but generally speaking my point holds.

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +1

It’s not minor. In the US, 1/5 of men die before they are 65. About 1/3 before 75. Greater than 1/2 before 85. That’s before you take into consideration physical ailments that prevent you from fully enjoying life, which are bound to happen in old age. Or the fact that if you live long, you’re going to have a harder time enjoying life anyway because many of the people in your life who made life worth living are dead. If you sacrificed 20-55 to retire at 55, you have to have 35 good years to break even. That’s 90.

1

TorchlessPath Apr 1, 2026 +1

Who said anything 35 years? Delayed gratification is a simple concept that can be applied against an array of timelines. For instance, I'm fasting right now - taking a few days off of eating will benefit me in getting healthier and losing weight.

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +1

The majority of the thread.

1

TorchlessPath Apr 1, 2026 +1

Take it up with them then.

1

Donjorjio Apr 1, 2026 +1

This seems like an unequal choice, I think you need to be happy now.

1

Sarz13 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Being happy can come in many different shapes and forms. Being secure generally only comes in one

1

Infamous_Fox_2385 Apr 1, 2026 +1

choosing only “secure later” can make u miss ur whole present life, tho it wil make ur future be thankful but hapiness will also play a major role in order for u to keep going

1

warpiglet86 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Some of both. My old boss got pancreatic cancer at 60 and was forced to retire, and was dead within 6 months. You can’t enjoy security later when you’re dead. But if you aren’t saving anything for the future that’s also not wise

1

parasocialintimacy Apr 1, 2026 +1

Ah, the daily battle of our future/present life. God forbid we watch the rear view mirror while making that choice…

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +1

Happy now. Granted, if it’s sacrificing a little happiness now for a lot of security later, that will make me think, but I could die of cancer before I retire. What good is my retirement plan then? Also, you can do things while you’re young that you physically can’t do when you’re old. Plus, all other things equal, it’s better to have good memories earlier that you can look back on for longer.

1

beachhunt Apr 1, 2026 +1

Balance in all things, at least to some degree. I wouldn't want to fully ignore happiness now to fully ensure security later, but I also wouldn't want to be hedonistic forever with no safety net. But I guess if I "had to choose" then secure since it's basically "happy later" so you still kinda get both.

1

vlvlv Apr 1, 2026 +1

Why not both

1

2gwanxo Apr 1, 2026 +1

Happy now… tomorrow isn’t guaranteed

1

Woodit Apr 1, 2026 +1

It’s a false dichotomy. Happiness is cultivated within, not purchased with money that should be saved or conjured with wasted time that should be used

1

Fun-Elderberry-4447 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Security later due to responsibilities but If I was alone I'd definitely choose happiness

1

PriyaWrites Apr 1, 2026 +1

Now

1

rusted10 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Young people will never understand "secure later" because they are invincible

1

ClimateWren2 Apr 1, 2026

An unfair comment....coming from the older generations who just stole basic security, livability, and sustainability from younger generations. Projecting?

0

rusted10 Apr 1, 2026 +1

We stole it by existing?? How could it be stolen? Why does any generation owe another? Does my brother owe me anything? There is a lack of age and wisdom that is at the root of your answer. You don't know what older generations had to go through to get where they are. You can only know by living.

1

ClimateWren2 Apr 1, 2026 +1

I was referring to the forty years of purposeful inaction on known climate change exhaust and fossil fuel combustion. Interestingly, older generations did NOT have issue turning off ozone eating CFCs during that time. For example...how have you acted on known climate change in your community these past twenty years of adulthood? Are you done? Did you do anything to help? Are you fossil free right now? Did you vote for people who got it done? I was a child....the aged wisdom with full power to act, was apparently asleep at the wheel. Do you even know that we just passed +1.5C warning, and what that means now? Older generations didn't act. I do know what they had to go through....because I had to do it when the Reagan era and GW Bush people failed to do it. Now...my generations and younger NO LONGER have the same climate, advantages, livability, and stability that post World War Boomers had....and it's still on a policy path to get much, much worse in both our lifetimes.

1

rusted10 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Sounds arguments. I do what I can but the industry im in isnt a big help.

2

ClimateWren2 Apr 1, 2026 +1

The industry I am in is neutral at best and harming too. Humanity is in for a challenge.

1

rusted10 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Agreed. It will be interesting. Sad part will be the ramifications for all the lack of thought.....

1

Administrative_Leg70 Apr 1, 2026 +1

If you pick secure later, I instantly judge your intelligence. Happy now is the only option, that may come from the perception of building a secure future or from other streams, like cocaine and hookers. but if you are sacrficing happyniess now for a hopefully secure future, you are an imbecilic. The future is not promised, regardless of your moves now, never suffer in the present for the chance to be happy later.

1

Winter_Swan5104 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Secure later because happiness is intangible.

1

beachhunt Apr 1, 2026 +2

Not to Debbie Downer it but "Later" is also intangible. Could give something up today and get hit by a bus tomorrow.

2

Ok-Square-8652 Apr 1, 2026 +1

I think you have to have both, but I have security now and it’s the memories I made when I was young that makes my life worth it. I absolutely did not choose security for a good part of my life and it made magic.

1

emo-poster-child Apr 1, 2026 +1

Secure later. I dont want to be an old person with no money or retirement plan... I would rather work hard now so when im old and crippled I dont have to work. And it sucks I dont want yo be that when im older im 27 but I do think about it. Time flies and I would rather suffer where im young and able than suffer as a old person. So I would rather do with out now so I can have when im older. And theres a happy medium with everything ya know but people my age spend too much money on stuff they dont really need.

1

Trollselektor Apr 1, 2026 +2

Don’t work yourself too hard sacrificing for tomorrow. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Tomorrow’s tomorrow even less so. You could be like my mom and work your ass off to retire at 58, only to be dead by cancer at 59 despite living a healthy life. If you have a strong desire to do something, do it now.

2

What if you had to choose between being happy now or secure later?

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