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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.

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