Content

Why do you think we tend to dwell on the things that aren't so good? If I wanted to, I could easily sit here and make you a list of all the bad things. The things I'm working on in myself, the things I know I need to change. The things that make the living difficult, the things that make me want to scream and punch things. The things that are unfair, the things that are wrong, the things that are hard.

But, there's another list too. The things that ARE so good. Good things in my marriage. Good growth in my kids. Family bonding. Wonderful supportive loving friends. A sort-of-trained, but lovable, dog. Progress in the organization of my house. A return to things I've always enjoyed. Financial blessings. Learning to be the duck. Excitement for my friends. Excitement for things that could be. Plans for the future, plans for the now.

But, it's often that the first list is the one that occupies my mind. Turning over the things that aren't good, thinking about them, dwelling on them, perhaps obsessing on them.

I'm going to change that, I think. There's no reason for the good stuff to take a backseat to the bad stuff. It robs from the contentment, with no purpose. And right now, I AM content. Relaxed into where I am right now, and content. But under the control of that first list, the contentment flees and is replaced by angst and stress and frustration, and for what? It's just silly, that's what.

So, no more. We're going to just enjoy the contentment for the season, and we'll deal with the hard stuff when the hard stuff actually needs to be dealt with.