What does contentment look like?

2/5/2016

Learning opportunities can present themselves to you in different forms and moments in your life. If something appears in my path on my journey of life I often as "why?"

Have you ever had a special "word" for a year? I have seen the trend pass through my social media feeds but I never thought that it applied to me.

Since my car accident last September a lot of things have changed and I never know what to expect anymore, so I am learning to take life day by day and moment by moment. When the word "contentment" kept coming to mind I knew it was something that I needed to pay attention to.

A meandering martin.

I admit that I have misjudged the word contentment. I have always thought that it meant to be complacent. That if I were content I would never want anything to get better, that I was okay with whatever.

Oh, how wrong I was!

A peaceful elk.

As I started to research this word - Contentment - I honestly couldn't believe what I was learning! The first phrase I found was- offspring of humility. That contentment leads to a more enjoyable and relaxing life. Synonyms are: serenity, pleasure, fulfillment. WHAT!?

Elkridge Resort, Prince Albert National Park

I began to see how contentment affects all areas of my life and what it can look like.

I can choose to find contentment in my life and that is okay. It does not be I am settling with how things are. It's that I can find happiness with where things are right now, they will change and evolve but I don't have to wait until I have my ideal picture of perfect to be content, happy or satisfied.

Choosing to be content has change my perspective on life and it truly has made my life more enjoyable and relaxed.

I enjoy my daughters as they are right now, I want to enjoy this phase of life with them. They are beautiful young ladies with so much potential. I can see that so clearly now.

I am content with my relationship with my husband. After 16 years of marriage we have gone through a lot together and our relationship has grown and flourished. I am content with where we are right now and I know, because history has taught me this, that it will continue to grow into an even deeper bond. Recently, my husband and I escaped for a night away to Elkridge Resort at the Prince Albert Provincial Park.

We had a fabulous diner, the resort is amazing, customer service is off the charts. As we sat by the fireplace in our room we talked about how thankful we are for our home. We are in this incredible 4 star resort and we are commenting on how our home is restful, comfortable and relaxing. We were amazed and thankful to learn that we don't need an escape to build our relationship or to get away from problems at home. That we are content with where we are and what we have in life.

What a peaceful place to be. I am so thankful that I have found this place. For years I have always been waiting for the next phase, the next accomplishment before I could find pleasure in my life.

Now I find pleasure in each day, because I have this day with my family. I have this day to be a light in a dark world. I have this day to make a difference.