Content

There are many levels of contentedness and so many different things that one should be content in.  Learning to be content is not something that is necessarily done intentionally.  Chances are being content stems from another part (or other parts) of your life getting right. 

Why this little talk on the word, "content?"  I wanted to be content with many things for a log time.  It is something I was trying to rationalize and use logic to achieve but never really grasped.  I wanted to be content in my work-place, happy to work where I was working, content with the things I own, content with my finances, content with my relationships, content with everything, but it was beyond my grasp.  But just today I started realizing that there are some things I am very content with and although they may be small to you, they are significant to me.

I have noticed that I am content with the vehicle I drive.  I purchased my motorcycle back in 2007 for $4000 that I borrowed from the bank.  The bike had 4710 miles on it when I picked it up in Albuquerque and it was perfectly clean.  It's a 2003 model so it obviously wasn't ridden much in those four years before my purchase of it.  Soon after (one year) riding it home (actually we hauled it in the back of my sister's truck but that's another story) I started thinking that I was wanting another motorcycle.  I wanted something that could tear down a dirt road and handle my long distance rides too.  I searched and searched for another motorcycle but things never really worked out.  I paid my bike off in 2009 and still own it today.  Just today I was riding it and noticed I have over 67,000 miles on it and I am looking forward to 100,000 miles and to the first engine rebuild.  Man, I am so thankful that I have ridden it for that long without any major upsets and only the minimal maintenance that is typical of any vehicle driven.  I am content with my wheels and it just happened, it wasn't on purpose. 

Something else that may be a little strange is I decided it is okay to eat the same thing for a week straight (or longer for that matter.)  I am content with not having something new everyday.  Our culture somehow says that you must eat something different every day and not repeat for at least two weeks or something like that.  Yeah, I just made that up, but that is how I felt things were supposed to be.  So I was never content with leftovers.  Especially if I had to eat them two or three days in a row.  Well, late last week I made some stew out of lots of veggies, some black-eyed peas, hamburger, and beef stock.  I have been eating it twice a day ever since and I am content with that.  I have oatmeal or breakfast burritos in the morning then stew for lunch and dinner.  You know what?  It tastes better every day.

Those are just two things but it goes on.  Start small, then go from there.  Being content with what you have and where you are is a very healthy place to be.  Don't think that this is an excuse for laziness because it is not.  If your living conditions or circumstances need improvement, then improve.  Some people need to be discontent with their present circumstances if their circumstances are detrimental.  But once you are somewhere healthy, be content.  When you reach for something better, be content with your present position but aim and achieve something better. 

The human race's development is driven by discontent.  Some of that discontent is good, other is bad.  Observe the purpose for your discontent, then judge whether it is valid or not.  It will take some objective thinking but will be well worth the effort in the end.

Do you all agree with me?  Where am I wrong?  What are your experiences with being content (and discontent?)

Joshua