Choosing  Contentment

As I sit here writing this blog,  the snow is falling in lovely big flakes. My poinsettia is blooming on the table and it looks more like Christmas than the middle of February.  Our lights are on and the fire is lit and we are cozy.  Many are without power so we consider ourselves fortunate.

I subscribe to Epoch Times newspaper and in this last issue a letter to the editor caught my eye.  I am using this as bases for this blog.  I always write for myself first and hopefully you will find this article as meaningful as I did. 

The letter writer reminded me that we all choose our priorities in life.  The title of her letter was “ Choosing Contentment over Comparison.” The letter itself reminded me of the many times when I was not happy nor content.  Although this concerned her child, I could relate this to myself and my pleasures…… wishing for more. 

After giving her little boy a yellow plastic dump truck for his birthday, the child was so excited that he begged his mother to take him to the park to play in the sand box.  He spent a good hour dumping sand in an out of the truck and making “vroom vroom” and “beep beep” noises.  He was so happy.  All of sudden though he stopped!! Another little boy entered the arena and he was holding his own dump truck.  It was big and shiny red, and had flashing lights and sounds.  The glee experienced by the first little boy was replaced by disappointment.  Pretty soon, he asked to go home.   

We are all going to be given different gifts throughout life……..some, a talent for music, for art or an ability to write, etc etc.  But we all have a gift.  We often don’t understand why we don’t have better gifts that were given to others.  We never could run as fast, never win at scrabble, or ever win a game of bingo!!  We rarely take stock of our own gifts…….a winning smile, or even the ability to make friends.

When we notice, appreciate, and fully enjoy the good things we already have, we experience contentment.  Then we are satisfied with what we have and feel grateful. 

On the other hand, when we compare what we have or do not have, we often lose that sense of satisfaction and happiness.  Any time we compare ourselves to someone else, we either feel superior or inferior and that is a guaranteed way to feel discontent and unhappy. 

In this age of technology, comparison is especially rampant on social media.  Many of us want what others have!  We are all blessed in different ways.  That famous movie star has the same problems as the rest of us.

It can be a challenge to choose contentment over comparison. Each of us has gifts and blessings.  Using them and recognizing these gifts will give us a sense of joy and peace.   Our greatest satisfaction will come from sharing these gifts with others.