“How to be happy? The answer, it seems, is turn 46 years old,” writes Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein.

This tantalizing lead caught my eye. As someone born in 1963, blissful happiness should be within my easy grasp. Hmmmm … Let me get back to you on that.

Klein was referring to the work of Carol Graham, who’s been studying happiness patterns throughout the world. Graham found that, regardless of a people’s country of origin, the keys to happiness are a stable marriage, good health and enough (but not too much) income. Not surprisingly, happiness-killers are unemployment, divorce and economic instability. And uncertainty. It’s more difficult to be happy when you’re in limbo.

How does the magical age of 46 figure in? Measures of well-being and contentment correlate more highly with ages mid- to late-40’s.

Thinking back through the decades of my life, I realize that, for me, there are definite trends in my happiness (and unhappiness):

In my teens, happiness = friendship with and acceptance from my peers.

In my 20’s, happiness = my vocational accomplishment and success.

In my 30’s, happiness = my perception of my kids’ well-being and sense of motherhood competence.

Now in my 40’s, happiness = the pieces of my life fitting together into a rhythmic whole. Except when one of life’s curve balls hits, and all the pieces ended up a jumbled mess.

That’s the kink in Graham’s theory for me. Life feels more in limbo this decade. There’s uncertainty around parenting teenagers who have a mind (and a driver’s license!) of their own. Health issues creep up among friends and family; sometimes those health concerns erupt and completely upend life as we know it.

Happiness, while certainly attainable, seems a bit more fragile at 46.

So, here’s my invitation for you Wise Women today: Think about how and when happiness shows up in your life. Comment below, if you like. But, more importantly, spend some time pondering.