Recently, when meeting up with friends I haven’t seen in awhile, I’m asked this question. It’s never been a hard question for me, I’ve always been moving somewhere, getting a job, going on a trip, starting something new.

But lately not much has been ‘up’. Veri-husband and I have just been getting on getting on. We have a house we love, good jobs that keep us busy but make us happy, and we’ve been cutting back on spending so trips have been off the table.

Sometimes I feel like I should be doing more. Have I become complacent? Boring? Dare I say…settled?

But instead of looking for the next adventure, the next set of plans to talk about to friends, I’m working on being happy with exactly where I am.

I recently finished reading Light Comes Through by Dzigar Kongtrul, and he talks about the westerners dependence on the next thing bringing them happiness. As soon as I do, buy, eat something, I’m already looking for what’s next, convincing myself that it’s the next thing that will bring me fulfillment and happiness. And it does, but it fades almost as soon as it’s consumed, and immediately my mind begins to wander to the next.

These days I’ve been focusing on just enjoying what is around me. Walking my dogs, sitting in a patch of sunlight eating lunch, playing scrabble with my husband. It’s not always easy, and I get pangs of longing when I hear of others’ adventures and ups and downs, but there is something nice in just being steady.