Contentment by Laurie Buchanan
Last week I had the privilege of meeting 12-week old Ellery. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about him. He lives out of state but was here visiting his grandparents and aunt. He also came to visit us at HolEssence. There wasn’t a big exchange. As you can see, Ellery is at peace within himself—he’s the epitome of contentment.
According to Webster, contentment is the state of feeling satisfied with one’s possession, status or situation; to be satisfied with what you have. So what prevents many of us from being content? Desire. When we desire something we don’t have, we’re not content. It is my desire (no pun intended) to be at ease with who I am and what I have. I am content. One of my favorite quotes is by J. Brotherton:
“My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.”
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
~ Laurie Buchanan
www.HolEssence.com
Copyright © 2010 Laurie Buchanan — All rights reserved
Tuesdays with Laurie 
Well said.
Contentment is noble thing to do and hard to keep going in this world. Challenging to say the least. It is people like you that are uplifting so much that all that stuff does not seem to matter, it is what is speaking to our heart that is the key….and also to the hearts of others.
Happy Day!
Kim
Good morning, Kim – thank you for stopping by. Do you remember how there was a strange “time stamp” on my post the other day and you thought maybe it was a setting on your computer? It wasn’t. I discovered (after this morning’s post) that my WordPress “time stamp” was set for the United Kingdom. I just reset it for Chicago time.
Great, now you are on the 7:06am time!!!!
Laurie, it sounds like we have similar desires: to be content with who we are and what we have. I am surrendering to the beauty of “what is” –as much as possible–now. Every day. This brings such simple joy, that inner smile of contentment etched so beautifully on Ellery’s face. Thank you!
“Surrendering to the beauty of what is” Kathy, that is a beautiful statement. I’ll take “simple” joy any day of the week — it’s the best kind. I’m looking forward to my daily dose of Lake Superior Spirit today. Hurry up, will ya?!
You’re funny! It’s only 8:25 a.m., Lady! Haven’t even opened the door to see whaz happening in Lake Superior World yet. Need to peek in and visit some of you guys first…
At the moment I am content… I read this early yet I was involved in Kathy and Terrill’s blogs… and still have to write my morning pages…
I am Love, Jeff
Aaaah, morning pages — that’s write (as in correct). Write away (as in hurry). Write on! (as in whoohoo!). Have a great day, Jeff!
This is a fine way to start my day, reading of contentment. I have been blessed in the last decade to realize how foolish and time-consuming the collecting of one thing after another really is. A person with too many “things” and yes, that can happen, might find them selves with no time left for anything else. Their things must be considered at all costs, housed, protected, played with, displayed, whatever until there is little time for the the real purpose of our lives. The love of our family, friends and the people we come into contact with everyday. I have never heard an eulogy that began with, “This was a woman who truly loved her things and devoted her life to them.” So better if read, ” This was a woman who truly loved her family and friends and devoted her life to them.” That is the woman I would rather be.
Sandi – I love your reply. It goes hand-in-hand with the conversation Len and I just had this morning about the BIG BUSINESS of storage units. There’s GIANT money to make in providing people with places to store their things. Overflow things that won’t fit in their home. Things you pay money to keep off-site, yet rarely have a chance to go do anything with, let alone enjoy.
“That’s the woman I would rather be.” Sandi, that’s the woman you are.
Sandi,
I will agree with Laurie I think you a woman who already is that Devoted to her life experience rather then her things!
Laurie, I am ashamed to admit that I am part of that big business of storage units, when I moved from NJ 6 years ago to the community, mom wanted to makes sure I had ‘stuff’ to come back to, I have been home for 2 years now… it is still in storage… I visit every once in awhile to find books and things… but it is a waste in many ways…
I am Love, Jeff
Jeff – You know what I’m going to say here, “Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.” Might I suggest that you pare it down to the bare essentials. Sell and/or donate what you’ve been paying a monthly fee for the last two years to visit every now and then.
If contentment is feeling satisfied what you have and when we desire something we don’t have, we are not content, then what is our impetus for growth? Do we have to be discontented with something in ourselves and thus desire change, or can we be content with who we are and still desire growth and becoming more of who we truly are? I find contentment to be very fleeting in my life (for example, I am content with my statistics exam that I will hand in today but I may or may not be content with the score!). I am content with the Magic cat just the way she is and really desire no change in her at all. But she will change (as all living things do). Perhaps I am confusing contentment with acceptance and my desire needs to be content with my acceptance.
Barbara – I’m so glad you brought this up. Let me see if I can speak to it:
It is my perspective that if a person is content, they are in a place of balance. That doesn’t mean that they’re not going to change. It doesn’t mean that they are going to stay that way. And it doesn’t mean that they are not going to grow.
I think, perhaps, you might have complacency in mind. It is my perspective that a person who is complacent isn’t going to change. Will most likely stay that way, and are probably not going to experience growth.
I knew you could answer that one…
Great explanation!
I am purging some stuff this weekend….
I have to admitt – suffer from this, however – try to balence it somehow…Problem is I throw stuff out and my hubby digs it outof the trash!! He loves to kep everything….the I could use that syndrome!!
Kim – I’m a minimalist, Len’s a “maximalist’ — but we’ve learned to compromise. Depending on what it is, if he doesn’t touch something for two years, it gets donated with no ifs, ands, or buts from either one of us.
That is a great strategy….I wonder if it would even be thought of by my hubby!…..Some day…
Gorgeous blog and photographs, Laurie. Of course they are knowing you!
Sandra, I would say good morning to you, but across the pond you’re probably already finished with lunch, so I’ll say good day! I’m so glad you stopped in — thank you — and I hope you’ll come again.
So that is where that quote comes from Laurie! It is a favourite of mine and I couldn’t find who to credit it with. Outstanding post about contentment. You have done a great job of capturing Ellery – what a sweetie.
Terrill – I’m glad you stopped by today after “playing blog hooky” as you shared in the comments section of your post “The Question of Who” in Creative Potager. (Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone, but it was e-a-s-y getting this photo of Ellery; he didn’t move a muscle. He was out like a light!) … Glad, too, to have provided the source of the quote. By the way, thank you for the link back to SPEAKING FROM THE HEART today. Have a terrific weekend!
Content and gorgeous! 🙂