In her memoir, Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen wrote about the happiest times in her life. She summed up her contentment with the simple, resounding thought that returned to her each morning: “Here I am, where I ought to be.” Since reading Dinesen’s book years ago, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of pursuing one thing above all else: contentment grounded in a feeling that I truly am where I ought to be. Sometimes, that feeling comes from being in a physical location that provides for my essential wants and needs without anything superfluous. At other times, reading a good book makes me feel understood, because the author has created a world—inhabited by characters who share my thoughts, emotions, and desires—in which I feel totally at home. Even something as simple as drinking the perfect cocktail for my mood and situation makes me feel that there’s a place especially for me in this world.
There is an art to recognizing this feeling in the moment, and taking the time to be appropriately grateful for it. Join me as I chase this elusive feeling, cataloging each of the places, objects, experiences, and rituals that ground me. Where I Ought to Be is a blog where I write about the little pleasures that make dull days brighter: literature, art, beauty and style, food and drinks, and all of the moments that inspire me. My photos accompany many of these posts, but I also feature my photography by responding to the weekly Wordpress Photo Challenge.
To learn more about me, check out my bio. To read more about the experiences that led me to start this blog, browse these posts.
Where I Ought To Be 