The first time I remember feeling content was when I was either a freshman or a sophomore in high school. I was in my friend’s kitchen doing homework with the sun shining through the windows and reflecting off of the white cabinets. I can’t say I was happy to be doing my homework but I wasn’t upset about it either. I was content being in that warm kitchen with my friend just taking my time doing what I was doing.
Ever since then I have been more acutely aware of moments when I felt content because I enjoyed the feeling so much. People now a days are so wrapped up in whether they are happy or sad that they forget to think about the moments in between. The ones where you are just enjoying the present instead or worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. I suppose that’s what being content means to me.
For instance, I can gladly say I am content at this moment right now. I have driven 16 hours from Colorado to Texas to be here for my step sister as she brings my beautiful niece in to this world. Currently we are laying in her bed together while I do what I love (writing) and she is editing her vlog for her YouTube channel (what she loves). I’m content laying in her soft white sheets with the sweetest dog in the world’s head on my lap taking the occasional break to laugh about something in her video or when my brother-in-law walks in. I’m even content watching my step sister eat cereal as she continues to tell me how painful pregnancy is at the end. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
It is moments like this that people need to take more notice of. Yes, we may not be having the time of our lives but we aren’t having a bad time either. We may not remember this moment in 40 years when we are telling our grandkids stories but at least I can honestly say I enjoyed the moments in between the big ones. I was content between my major happy moments and my unfortunate sad ones.
Being content in the in between moments is just the alternative of just simply going through the motions. It is just taking a second to realize that everything is alright and your life is actually pretty cool sometimes even if it is not exciting 24 hours a day. So my challenge for you is to be content and take note of those moments and why they may be special in their own little way. Notice the beauty in the simplicity of what you’re in. Like I said, moments like this escape us far too often. So watch the sunset if that’s what it means to you or eat cereal in bed with your step sister like me, but do not forget to recognize these little content moments for everything special that they are, because if you do you may miss a whole lot.
