Contentment

One of my favorite quotes says, "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have." I love the state of feeling content with where I am, how things are, what is happening, etc. There have been times in my life when I didn't feel that way and it was really quite miserable. At moments, that I've felt discontent it is amazing how all consuming those feeling of dissatisfaction can be. No matter how perfect everything in your life may seem, to others, if you don't feel content there is just this tremendous void. According to dictionary.com discontent is "a restless desire or craving for something one does not have."

I've come to the conclusion that our society often tries to push us into a state of discontentment. This happens in multiple ways such as through marketing campaigns, magazine ads, books, social expectations, etc. For example, when I was graduating from Salem College it was difficult to revel in the satisfaction of that moment because everyone was too busy asking me what I would do next. Isn't that always how it is? It's not enough to achieve this or that everyone wants to know what is next. In the field of sales, there is a common phrase in the industry that says, "What have you done for me lately?" I might have had great numbers last month, but that is all water in the bridge as we begin a new month today.

Most recently, I've really seen this, what is next mentality, with our recent engagement. When we were dating everyone wanted to know when we were getting engaged. Now that we are engaged, everyone wants to know when we are getting married. Just the other day, someone asked me when we are going to have kids. My sister says that when you have a child everyone wants to know when you will have another. It seems to be a never ending cycle. I often think these questions spur from genuine excitement, curiosity, a need to connect, and sometimes when it is from complete strangers it has to be just noisiness.

When Amiri and I were dating people often asked if we were serious and our response was, "No, we laugh and joke all the time." Some thought that that response was funny and others were annoyed that we side stepped their direct question. While we were dating I had a blast and now that we are engaged I want to enjoy this time as well instead of being so caught in what comes next that I miss the moment that we are in. Contentment seems to have a negative connotation, in our society, where it isn't OK to be satisfied with where things are because people always want more. I'm here to attest that contentment is one of my favorite states of being, how about you??