Bears, boats, boards and bikes

What made you happy in 2018? We’re collaborating with Beerbods to find out, and the answer so far seems to revolve around bears, boats, boards and bikes. Of course.

Take a look at the pictures below to see some of our favourite portraits of happiness, and don’t forget it’s not too late for you to share your own version of the good times. To join in, just choose a picture of the thing that made you happy this year, and tag it with #beerandmags2019 on either Twitter or Instagram.

We’ll choose our favourite picture on Friday 21 December and the winner will pick up a year’s free subscription to both Stack and Beerbods, guaranteeing 12 months of excellent independent magazines and craft beer, delivered to their door.

Please note this competition is only open to UK addresses, and bears sailing boats or riding bikes are kindly asked not to participate because it wouldn’t be fair on everyone else.

“You’ve got a bear behind”
Abi got happy in Margate, and now her encounter with a bear could win her a year of beer and magazines.

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#bearwithme #margate meeting this bear made me so happy! #beerandmags2019

A post shared by Abi Lewis INSTASPAM (@i.am.abi) on Oct 14, 2018 at 4:26pm PDT

Just don’t die
Eiva managed to stay alive in her first surfing lesson, setting the bar relatively low for reasons to be happy.

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I am feeling super happy after my first ever surfing lesson. My goal before the lesson was not to die but I actually ended up riding the waves. We’ve got another lesson tomorrow before we go back to Brighton and then who knows when I’ll be able to surf next…but hopefully not too long. I really loved it. #beerandmags2019

A post shared by Eiva Poppins: Brighton Blogger (@eivapoppins) on Aug 2, 2018 at 6:41am PDT

Living by the sea
Maybe it’s because of the cold outside these days, but lots of our favourite pictures hark back to long summer days outside…

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Playground

A post shared by Jeremy Marshall (@jeremyamarshall) on Jul 8, 2018 at 2:43am PDT

What mountain?
Jake bucks the summertime trend with this amazing picture heading straight into the snowy peaks of New Zealand’s Mount Cook.

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Ever been in a plane flying straight into mountains??? No? Then what are you waiting for? Go do it!!! • • • • #storiestotell #mountcook #mountains #myinflite #newzealand #newzealandfinds #newzealandguide #nzmustdo #nzimagery #earthpixnz #bbcearth #adventure_culture #createexplore #canoncommunity #canonnz #canon_photos #canonaustralia #canonphotography #rsa_outdoors #lifeofadventure #skiplane #travel #seizethemoment #weareexplorers #welivetoexplore #weroamnewzealand #tasmanglacier

A post shared by Jake T Nash (@jakenashphotography) on Jul 6, 2018 at 1:47am PDT

Broad smile
Benedict takes a relaxed approach to sailing the Norfolk Broads…

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Boating on the broads #beerandmags2019

A post shared by Benedict Hemmens (@benedicthemmens) on May 18, 2018 at 12:24pm PDT

Feet up
But Roseanna takes an even more laid back approach to life aboard.

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My abode love my little boat. Also repping those @goodnewslondon kicks #film #35mm #istillshootfilm

A post shared by Roseanna Clare (@roseannaclare) on Oct 4, 2018 at 5:59am PDT

Bear leg
And because one bear is never enough, Ollie shows his commitment to ursine happiness.

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Support local businesses! Thank you so much @andrewhulberttattooer @storyvilletattoo for my amazing new and an awesome afternoon, and thank you @gipsyhillbrew @marcusreed for what will be a great evening. #inklocal #drinklocal

A post shared by Ollie Blaszkowski (@ol_blaz) on Jun 14, 2018 at 12:23pm PDT

Join the competition!
Just tag your happy picture with #beerandmags2019 before Friday 21 December to be in with a chance of winning. Good luck!