Has your idea of what makes you happy changed as you've got older?

A natural way to answer

It really has changed. I used to chase big milestones, thinking happiness was somewhere up ahead once I'd achieved enough. These days I've realised it's more about small, steady contentment, and I've stopped putting it off until some perfect future.

Key phrases to use

• shine — the appeal or excitement that makes something feel special at first“The new phone lost its shine within a month.”
• putting it off — delaying something instead of doing or allowing it now“I keep putting off relaxing until I've finished everything.”
• fills my cup — to give you energy, joy, and a sense of being emotionally nourished“Time in nature really fills my cup.”
• comfortable in my own skin — feeling at ease and accepting of who you are“It took years to feel comfortable in my own skin.”
• growing up — becoming more mature and wise, not just older“Caring less what others think is part of growing up.”