Skip to main content

Contentment and Creativity

Music speaks to me in a way that other things cannot. Sometimes it’s the beat–some songs tend to make me drive faster. Sometimes it’s the harmony–I sing along to those. But for many, it’s the lyrics–I can relate to them–and I think this is probably true for many of us. But what does this have to do with finances? Okay, I’m getting there.

Sheryl Crow really gets me thinking in Soak Up the Sun when she sings, “It's not having what you want, It's wanting what you've got.” Those words are POWERFUL, for they totally embody the idea of CONTENTMENT. I decided to Google that term so I could share with you an intelligent definition, which I’m going to do, so get ready, here it comes…contentment: a state of happiness and satisfaction. But I’m going to go a step beyond that because the example Google used really gets to the root of what I’m trying to say today: "He found contentment in living a simple life in the country." How did the subject of that sentence find contentment? Living a SIMPLE life! I am going to assume that I do not need to define the word “simple.” I think we all get that one.

I once overheard a conversation between two fathers. The first man said his young son was always bored even though he had enough video games, toys, and sporting equipment to keep an entire body of elementary school children supplied with activities for a month. He went on to say that when he was young he had very little, had to share what he had with three brothers, and yet he never remembered being bored. The second man had the perception to see that his friend had essentially trained his son to never be content with what he had–there was always something new coming his way, so he did not have to be happy with what he already owned. And if I added my own insight here, the first father’s young son never had to exercise his imagination, either. How sad! If I took it one step further, how many things would we be missing in this wonderful life if everybody quit experimenting because they no longer had to use their imaginations?

I daresay that giving gifts in excess is not only NOT helping our children, but it’s HURTING them. The words to the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas come to mind–I think to the end when the narrator says, “’Twas the night after Christmas and all through the house Not a creature is stirring not even a mouse. The presents are scattered and broken, I fear, And St. Nicholas won’t come again for a year.” Why not give an experience that will stay with them? If you are confused by this, I encourage you to check out my most recent blog posts–like for the entire month of November 2020. Need ideas? Be sure to check your local Discover Family Fun Facebook community for the "Experience Gift" thread that will have tons of ideas just waiting to inspire you! Happy reading.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Know Your Limits

When I was 17, I drove a 73 Nova. It used to be really easy to do things like changing taillights myself. That is no longer the case. If I tried that on my later-model vehicle (which is more like a computer than a car), I’d do more damage than good, because there are some thing you should just not do yourself. It will cost you more in the long run. That being said, there are probably some things that you usually pay someone else to do that are not getting done right now. My advice is to just be patient; depending on what it is and your skill level, it might end up costing you more to fix your mistakes. Let’s discuss some of those… Obviously, most if not all car repairs are just better done by a licensed, trained professional, including oil changes. They can also correctly dispose of used petroleum products. Depending on your tax filing status, a professional can help you avoid overpaying the IRS. I remember cutting my daughter’s hair when she was little, and I made a me...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gifts that Matter

When I think about my childhood, there are a few events (some good, some not so good) that really stand out. These specific incidents made big impacts on me, so they really stuck. I bet you can say the same thing. These encounters, good and bad, help shape who we are. As parents, it is our job to teach our children to be honest, upstanding, contributing members of society. This does not happen by accident. Part of this process involves the experiences we give our children–we can orchestrate PEAK moments for our families that will leave lasting impressions on young, impressionable minds. What is a PEAK moment? According to de Jager Meezenbroek, Garssen, van den Berg, van Dierendonck, Visser, and Schaufeli in the Journal of Religion and Health , “Peak experiences are often described as transcendent moments of pure joy and elation. These are moments that stand out from everyday events.” Christmas offers an EXCELLENT opportunity to offer experiences that can become “PEAK moments” in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Greener Pastures

Those of you who have been following me for some time now know I am a warm-weather person. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I COME ALIVE when Daylight Saving Time starts. As far as I’m concerned, LIGHT IS LIFE. And that proclamation is a perfect segue into today’s topic. As the days get longer and warmer, most venture outside a little more and hibernate less. So it’s the perfect time to adjust our schedules and homes that can help save the planet and some of our hard-earned money. How? Well, there are lots of little things you can do that, added up, can make a huge difference. Switch out your regular light bulbs for LEDs. If you plan to buy a new appliance, purchase one with the ENERGY STAR seal and recycle your old one. Insulate your doors and windows. Save rainwater to water your landscape in the drier days ahead. Use the sun to dry your laundry by hanging it on a clothesline. Want more ideas? Google is LOADED with suggestions! Get the whole family involved and m...
Post a Comment
Read more