Gratitude & Contentment

With life being so quiet these days, I don't have much to share with you. I figure you don't need to hear that we ran errands on Friday, Saturday I worked the Visitor Center, and yesterday we went to church. So I decided to share with you some of my reflections over the past few days.

I've been overwhelmed with feeling grateful. Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday simply because nothing is required of me, really. No presents to buy, no stress of the “holiday spirit,” just being thankful. And while it's nice to set aside a day on which we acknowledge our gratitude, I really strive to put a little Thanksgiving into each of my days.

I know – this sounds really mushy. Sorry. Well, not really. :)

Gratitude is such an easy thing to feel, too. We don't have to look very far in our lives to find something to be grateful for. Even if life isn't going exactly the way we want it to, there are still many blessings in our lives.

We have shelter, food, clothing. Sure, maybe the house isn't our dream house, and we can't eat at all the restaurants we'd like, or wear the latest fashions. But, we have the basics. And to tell you the truth? I'm not into the latest fashions, or eating out all the time (just sometimes), or have a “dream” house. And I'm okay with that.

I am content. Right where I am. And I'd rather be content than happy. To me, contentment is so very much deeper than happiness. It is being grateful with what I have no matter what others have. It is gratitude deep down in my soul. And I love that.

God has given me so much more than my needs. I am married to a wonderful man who loves me in spite of my flaws. I live a life that allows me to travel with that guy. I have three great kids who are married to three great people and have given me three beautiful grandchildren. I have a sister on whom I can depend and talk to about anything. And my parents – I am blessed to have parents who love me unconditionally and also have my back. Friends? What can I say about my friends? You know who you are and how very much you mean to me.

Yeah. I'll take gratitude and contentment over the roller coaster of happiness any day.

Until the next time . . .