I wrote this last March… its been refreshing to re-read this… Not much has changed 
“I’ve been thinking a bit recently about what it means to be content as i look to the immediate and not so immediate future. Asking life altering, earth shaking questions like; Where is home? Can i stay away from friends and family? Is canada to cold? why did i have to learn pythagorus theorem in Secondary school…? Heres some of my musings
As i thought through some of the times when i’ve felt most content a common theme pops up… its usually when i’ve felt most comfortable… comfort for me at its basic level can be summed up this way…
When there are people surrounding me whom i love, and whom love me… its a place where relationships are working and people are encouraging…
On the flip side, some of those common themes from when my contentment is disrupted, would pan out like this… when i am tired or sick, when relationships are out of sync or when life jumps from simple to complex
I love being around friends… if you know me you would be aware with how much weight i say this… friends bring me happiness and contentment! I love walking through life, journeying and intersecting with great people!
I also need my down time. Away from the crowd enjoying the alone time… Sometimes reflecting… sometimes watching a no brainer movie. I find my energy in both things but the opposite is also true; too much of one thing will kill my peace, joy and contentment. Finding the balance is never easy… i would say i need more time with people than away from people and i am definitely afraid to be away from my buddies too long incase i miss something
Over the years walking and working with a broad, diverse range of people, i’ve seen that when it comes down to it our most basic human goal outside of survival, is happiness. Usually everything we do is an attempt to enjoy our lives.
For me though and also from what i’ve seen in the lives of countless others, happiness is at times an elusive, very dependent and fickle creature. In light of this i think we should see ‘contentment’ as the solid foundation upon which happiness can most easily express itself. The pursuit of happiness can, at least in my experience, be a frustrating one… so to ask ‘am i happy here?’ is tough to answer… i am happy here, sometimes, i am sad here, sometimes. To ask ‘am i content here?’ is altogether a different and much more productive and concise question to deal with.
Heres are some things i’ve found helpful in finding contentment!
-Chasing a passion. This brings inner contentment as I achieve
-Find contentment in nature! Thunder Bay is beautiful… my eyes have been opened to a new beauty that is accessible, in the back yard if you like. I appreciate this to no end
-Leaving work behind and learn to play again
-Looking ahead, not back. Live life. Love others. No regrets
-Making goals and plans and run after them as if there is no tomorrow
-Having faith and hope that there is still goodness and kindness in the human heart
-Trying to simplify my life. less clutter and mess more space and time for the things that I love most
I have found myself praying over and over again for contentment these days and have a real sense that the immediate future involves staying here in Thunder Bay for a bit longer… so heres to another chapter of chasing dreams, clinging onto the roller-coaster of life, walking with friends new and old, learning to love more and authentically attempting to walk in the footsteps and example of one who is greater than anyone i’ve ever known
Slainte”
