Contentment

Growing up, I thought contentment was having everything you ever dreamt of, but now, in the emptiness of this room, I realize that you can only ever achieve contentment by making peace with your situation.

This is not about not having a dream or being void of the steam required to pursue that dream. It is not a lack of ambition or being satisfied with living a mediocre lifestyle, neither is it the same as being lazy and not willing to work to earn your keep – NO.

It is more about making with what you have, accepting what is as a present reality whilst working towards what is needed. It is you finding comfort and being happy that you’re alive with enough to get by, knowing that there’s always a chance to get more. It is you not just idling away and hoping for a miracle but ploughing your field while being grateful for the previous harvest.

Contentment isn’t about how much you lack but your perspective on how you see things – Is it half a glass empty or half a glass full?

In the silence of this room, I realize that discontentment stems from longing, and most times, we long for things we were often deprived of. Be it the love you desperately want but can’t seem to get, or the empty space in your chest that has been longing to be filled with happiness.

I feel a certain cushion, with my head on that empty space. Maybe I’ll call it peace.

One you can only find on the path to contentment.