Contentment is a beautiful word

By PATTIE MIHALIK

newsgirl@comcast.net

A while back in a writer's guild workshop we were asked to write down words we thought are beautiful.

The workshop leader didn't want us to list words where the meaning was beautiful. It's the word itself the sound of the word on which we were to concentrate.

We were given 10 minutes to list our "beautiful" words. At the end of that time, I didn't have any words I truly thought were beautiful only because of the sound.

I put down "mesmerizing" because I like the meaning of the word. But that doesn't have a beautiful sound.

I didn't do well at the exercise because I kept listing words with a beautiful meaning for me. Words like family, heartstrings, gentle, tranquil and affectionate were on my list. I like those words not because of how they sound but because of the meaning.

The rest of my writing colleagues had a long list of beautiful sounding words, at least to them.

I like the sound of Italian names and words. But when it comes to English words I keep getting hung up on words with meaning.

Two years later, I find myself thinking about a beautiful word. The word is contentment.

But once again, I like the word because of its meaning.

I have discovered a rich treasure that keeps enhancing my life. That richness is contentment.

When you are truly content, you are filled with a peace that prevails in every situation.

A few months ago I could have been caught up in an ugly situation that had trapped people I care about. My friends thought it would take over my life too.

Gratefully, the overall peace I feel in this stage of life wasn't shattered. There are several reasons for that prevailing peace. A better grip on what is important is one reason. An abiding faith is another.

But being content with life certainly contributes greatly to my prevailing peace.

Some psychologists believe contentment comes from being happy with the important choices we make in life. I can see where that is true.

But I also know some people who made a rotten choice but went on to find contentment later.

Contentment isn't an all or nothing thing. Nor is it something that lasts forever once you have found it. I think contentment is like a beautiful garden it has to be regularly nourished. Keeping a keen sense of appreciation can be that nourishment.

Experts tell us happiness doesn't come from how much we have in life. It comes from being content with what we have.

Look around and you will see many who aren't content with what they have, even if they seem to have plenty of everything. In spite of having money and a good lifestyle, some have an emptiness inside that is the opposite of contentment.

On the other hand, I have the pleasure of knowing one couple with next to no luxuries except their tiny bungalow with rooms the size of some people's walk-in closets.

Joe and Mary don't even own a car. They walk everywhere. But they radiate with good health and good cheer.

Their secret, I believe, is that they are content.

Happily married for 40 years, they are content with each other and with the life they have built together.

You will never hear them putting each other down. Instead, they build each other up.

Once, Joe started telling me he always had a job but he never had one where he made much money. "I could never give Mary the things she deserves," he said.

Mary jumped in to tell him he always gave her the important things in life love, attention and daily affection.

Their contentment is a very real and palpable force. No wonder I enjoy being around them. I like their example of being content with what they have.

I do have to admit that while I am content with my life and am overwhelmed with the joy of each day, unlike Joe and Mary I find myself wanting something I don't have.

The object of my desire has four letters b-o-a-t. Ever since we sold our boat, I've never stopped wanting another one. My husband, on the other hand, believes being burned once is enough.

We bought our boat second hand and were totally taken by the sellers. The boat made it home to our dock but not much more than that. Many repairs and thousands of dollars later, I have to admit it was the dumbest financial mistake I ever made.

"Never again!" my husband insists. I tell him just because we had one bad boat doesn't mean they are all like that. He says we should be happy with what we have because we are NEVER getting another boat.

My points for why we should buy another boat: We live on water and have a big dock and empty boatlift. All around us is water glorious water for boating. And I love being out on water.

But David is right when he says having or not having a boat won't change our happiness. It's not material things that give us true happiness.

Happiness is being content with what we have and having a heart full of gratitude for life's true blessings.

All of this is why I think contentment is a beautiful word. What's your beautiful word?