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Realizing contentment is natural wealth

By Hunter Darden | Statesville R&L

Published: November 8, 2009

Socrates profoundly said — in that little way he had — "Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty."

What makes you feel the most content? Mull it over. It's a time when your heart and soul are smiling simultaneously with pleasure, along with a calm sense of peaceful satisfaction. Ultimate contentment can come in the form of brief, fleeting moments or it can be a more elongated period of time that offers a sense of tranquility. However, what is paramount is being aware in the moment or time period that you are truly content rather than realizing it too late.

I have experienced the beauty of contentment with its brief pleasures, but I have also had several "life-eras" that have created a sense of all-encompassing contentment.

One profound period was the summer of 1980. It was the epitome of carefree, natural wealth. I had just graduated from Meredith College and I was living in Raleigh with three of my college friends. Studying days were over and we all had enjoyable non-constraining jobs. It was a time period where there were no family responsibilities, traumas or dramas.

The beauty is that we had mastered the art of "goofiness" and the gift of laughing was our art form — the knee-slapping, cheekbone-hurting, unable-to-catch-your-breath style of laughing. It was all about loving life and draining every moment dry. But the great return was that we knew we were happy. I remember my grandmother called me one day and I practically sang to her, "Nana, I am soooo happy!" I was experiencing contentment, and, more importantly, I knew it.

There are also the short-lived, fleeting moments of contentment that are just as powerful. Holding my newborn sons gave an indescribable level of contentment, along with the indelible, content emotion of love through all the natural phases of rearing these precious commodities. Another one is sitting on the beach in a dreamy state while listening to the sounds of the ocean waves — without our "precious commodities" in the ocean. Watching my favorite TV shows under my electric blanket after giving myself permission to "call it a day" never fails, either.

To appease my curious mind, I decided to check into the psyches of my friends, male and female of varying ages, to find out what precipitates ultimate contentment for them. Here are the compelling answers:

— A long, rainy Sunday afternoon with my husband curled up beside me — and a clean house.

— Lying under the covers in a semi-conscious state after an exhausting day with oatmeal cookies, chocolate milk and a good book.

— My first massage.

— Having all my children home while I cook for them and take care of them.

— Sitting on my screened porch with a good book and some good noisy outside bugs.

— Pulling in the driveway safely and knowing everyone is okay.

— Being at home with my husband and pets, watching a movie.

— Good music and a bubble bath.

— The moment I'm casting a lure toward a fish I want to catch.

— A drive in the country or mountains with my husband and dog.

— A good cup of coffee, sitting on the deck reading a good book.

— Potting my window boxes and pots.

— Having my kids home safe from parties, college, etc.

— That rare spot that shows the awesome beauty of nature — a small private beach in St. Martin and a stream pond deep in the mountains of West Virginia give me that overwhelming sense of having reached "trail's end."

— A strong five-mile run.

— Sitting in my favorite chair with my feet up having a glass of wine at the end of a long day when I know I have no other responsibilities.

— After the minutia of the day, relaxing with a crossword puzzle, a heating pad and "Law and Order."

— Watching Seinfeld reruns while eating slice-and-bake chocolate chip cookies with milk.

— Getting a call from all my children saying they are happy.

— The contented sounds of my cat's purring.

— Taking a walk down a path filled with the colors and fragrances of autumn and looking up into a clear, blue sky.

— When my entire family gathers in a circle, holding hands to say a blessing before a meal.

As you go about your day, stay peacefully poised and aware of the wonderful moments that generate the beauty of contentment. Treasure them and let their "natural wealth" carry you a long, long way on this journey called life.

Hunter Darden is an award-winning author of seven books, humor/inspiration newspaper columnist and public speaker. She lives in Statesville. Her Web is www.booksbyhunter.net.