True Delight for What Is Now

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

— Epicurus (341bce–270bce)

We are characteristically short-sighted regarding our lives, what we have, what we need, and what we desire. Being human is the essence of getting life wrong. And being human is the manifestation of every human being.

We spoil what we have now—what we have plain sight for—by looking a little too far in our quest for the domination of our desires. And our desires are supplanted, more often than not, by what we see in others’ lives. There seems always the mode of comparison that takes us to a nether land of bountiful dissatisfaction.

Such a thing of looking over the fences of life, unless we have the role to do that, is pointless in that it dissuades us from a focus on the things God has already given us; those things we ought to be poignantly thankful for.

These are opportunities. Whether we take the opportunity of gazing over the fence or we take the opportunity for enjoying the things we have is a crucial decision; backed by a commitment regarding our focus.

Perhaps even more we might just act. Perhaps we might simply act in a thankful way disregarding the circumstance and cost and situation of fact regarding others’ lives.

Enjoying States of Steady and Slow Progress

The key to contentment in life could be boiled down to being sufficiently pleased—without overdoing it—regarding the steady pace of life; not becoming too frustrated, nor too driven to succeed.

Why are we in such a hurry to achieve? Why are we in such a hurry to acquire? What possible satisfaction can we gain in desiring the next thing if there is always a ‘next thing’?

There is wisdom in contentment and contentment in wisdom.

As we reconcile the fact that we are blessed in this life—and all are—we begin to increase the notion that the blessings we enjoy are beyond acquisition. God has blessed us with life, with memory, with hopes for the day, with the ability to experience things, and even with plain breath.

When we slow down in life, enjoying the natural pace of things, we become blessed in our experience of peace; a peace anyone can have anytime.

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We have all achieved and acquired much in life; much to be thankful for. The moment we slow down and consider how much God has blessed us is the moment we enjoy being simply who we are.

© 2013 S. J. Wickham.