Contentment

Today's SSJE video and question is about contentment.

Are you content right now?

Here's my photo answer - a picture of contentment, I think, both restful and playful:

As I answered in the SSJE comment page, I realize that this is a complex idea, contentment. I have often been someone who wanted more and more. From an early age, I wanted the WHOLE COLLECTION of things I collected. I often feel dis-content. 

And yet at the same time, I often do feel contentment, at least for a little while. Sometimes sitting in church I feel content; sometimes propped up in bed with a good book brings on a sense of contentment. Gathering around a table of good food and friends/family does, too. Going on a walk outside and enjoying nature makes me feel content.

The part of this idea that is most active in my mind and imagination, though, is that as I age, I have become discontent with excess. Too much stuff. We are packing up our house in Atlanta to move it all to Richmond and I enjoyed filling up a dumpster and gathering things to be given away. Stuff is encroaching on me. I feel that stuff binds me. 

And yet, I couldn't bring myself to get rid of way too much stuff.

So this is complex. I definitely need to continue to ponder contentment.