words on gratefulness and being content

and choosing to see the good

I recently finished reading the book Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton. She is the same author who wrote Calm Christmas which I just adore. Anyways, this recent read of Kempton's I found interesting as it is a way of looking at the ancient wabi sabi philosophy and applying it to our own lives in the here and now. The book is about appreciating simplicity, flowing with change not against it, and knowing that there is no such thing as perfect, that there is beauty in imperfection.

While I did enjoy the book as a whole, I found quite interesting the interviews she did with elders in the Japanese community about contentment and living a long and fulfilling life. In particular, a conversation Kempton had with a 94-year-old woman got me thinking. Here is what the author wrote:

"When prompted for her secret to a happy life, (the elder woman) said she believed the root of all unhappiness was not being content with what you have and spending too much time looking outside your life instead of spending time inside it. This doesn't mean we cannot have dreams, but rather happiness begins with gratitude".

Let that sit for a minute.

We can become unhappy as a society because we are not content with what we have. We become too busy looking at what others have, and this can cause us to be ungrateful.

Although we can point a finger at social media and goodness knows those apps fuel comparison, but the term "keeping up with the joneses", was here long before you saw your cousin's best friend's daughter post photos online of their recent vacation. It is so easy for us to compare ourselves to others, isn't it? I know I have been guilty of that at times. "I wish I had this, I wish I had that, I wish I didn't have this, I wish I didn't have that..." and on and on, right?

But I am thinking about this whole contentment and gratitude thing because I think it is a bit related to expectations. An expectation is a belief that something will happen or be the case in the future, or that we will get or achieve something. The funny thing is, is that the definition doesn't say it will happen, and this is where I think a person can feel discontent.

The expectations don't match up with the reality. Instead of recognizing this and understanding this, we feel discontent and lose sight of what we actually have. We lose our sense of gratitude.

We are all beautiful souls and I realize some of us lovlies, are much more enlightened and are truly content with who they are and where they are in life. I love that!

But for those needing a bit more advice, a bit more tutelage, a bit more age-old wisdom, the same 94-year-old woman that I mentioned earlier in this piece, had something else to say to Kempton. I hope it resonates with you:

"We don't need much to live a good life. When you are grateful for what you do have, and share it with those you love, whatever else you need comes. Don't waste energy about what you don't have. That is the route to misery. Instead, pay attention to the good already present in your life, and do your best at whatever you are doing. There is joy in the satisfaction of that".

Remember that. Don't waste energy about what you don't have. Pay attention to the good already present.

Be grateful.

I thought we could share in the comments 3 things that we are grateful for and share in one another's contentment ❤. Just name three things just right off the top of your head, it doesn't have to be elaborate or anything, although if elaborate is your thing than go for it!

Here are my 3 things I am grateful for:

1. My thrifted cardigan that keeps me warm on the chilly mornings I am dropping my daughters off at school.

2. A steaming tea kettle and my afternoon tea break before I begin making dinner.

3. 1940's jazz music that I can play through my phone while I clean up the kitchen. Technology does have its bright spots 😊

What are you grateful for?