I am 52 today. If you were to ask me how old I am right at this moment I'd probably tell you I feel ageless in many ways, neither old nor young. My kids tell me that physically I'd pass for 10 years younger than my age. What is my secret? Good genes help tremendously to be true, good health doesn't hurt, but I'd say at least 75% of it is good attitude. I feel at peace, happy and content.
I learned a long time ago that many people are offended by that last word, "content". They claim that anyone who is content has settled into a rut and wants nothing more. They suggest that the only ones who are content are cows in the pasture and what do they know, they are just a step away from being slaughtered. A few have even suggested that contentment is equated with boredom, nothing new ever happening, nothing ever going to change (we're back in the rut, you see).
From the limited wisdom of 52 years let me say this about feeling content: contentment comes when we are striving towards a goal we've set for ourselves; work, rest, and play in good measure; have learned and live the serenity prayer; wake each day excited to see what the day might bring even when the tasks before us are mundane; are willing to forgive others; strive every day to change and grow and gain wisdom. Contentment, in short, comes with living well.
If that sounds smug and all wise and rose colored glasses, then I do apologize. I do not mean to give an overall picture of absolute and total bliss. There are days that are very hard. Days when I am challenged to remember that serenity prayer and triply challenged to wrangle myself into submitting to it. Days when I wake up and want nothing more than to roll right back over and blot it all out. Days when I am bored beyond tears. Days when I'm so overtired from work and lack of rest and play that I can barely gather the energy to yawn. Days when I bang up against a mountain I've been marching around and around like Moses in the wilderness. Days when I have murder in my heart and dreams and loving words are likely to begin to gasp for breath for want of air.
Some days I lose sight of contentment. Yet it hasn't gone anywhere at all, I just need to wait for the fog to lift to realize that it's still there.
I celebrate a variety of New Years: the annual Roman calendar New Year; my birthday; my wedding anniversary; Yom Kippur, the Jewish New Year. All these New Years remind me to focus, just in case I haven't been lately, to check my path, to take my contentment temperature and determine if I'm where I want to be and where I might stand improvement in my life. Today's temperature read well. I've been working hard the past six months to make my days count for something. Since the Roman calendar New Year I've stayed abreast of my resolutions in most areas (one or two need a bit of wrestling...). I've been working harder at giving my writing work the attention it deserves once more. I'm more committed than ever before to proving my theory that one can live frugally and well. I'm healthy and have only very minor ailments. No great drama or stress to deal with of late. This new phase of empty nesting is beginning to wear rather well. My children are doing well. I've played and worked and rested in good measure. Contentment shines like the sun pouring into the windows of my living room at present.
It seems an auspicous way to begin another New Year doesn't it? Happy New Year to Me!
5 comments:
Happy Birthday to you! I hope your day was a good one. I really liked what you had to say about contentment.
Happy Birthday Terri!!
That is the best definition of contentment that I have ever read! Happy Birthday, Terri! :)
Happy Birthday!! May you be blessed this year with health and happiness. Grandma D.
Happy belated birthday, Terri! I have the serenity prayer on my dresser, and am trying to focus more on my blessings this year. I'm reading a wonderful book by Ann Voskamp, called "One Thousand Gifts"...it is a reminder to live in Thanksgiving every day!
Blessings to you.
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