Midlife Monday ~ A Time of Contentment

 Midlife Monday ~ Midlife - it's a time of contentment and self acceptance

WORRIES AND WOES

I took a survey today - to help another blogger who was looking for ways to encourage midlifers to deal with their worries and problems. What I realized as I answered the questions is......I don't really have any worries or problems at the moment. I'm in a place of contentment and I feel a real sense of satisfaction with my life right here and right now.

Our society tells us we should always be striving for more, we don't have enough, and if we have enough now, what about tomorrow? Or next year? Or our retirement? Or what we're going to be leaving for our children's inheritance? More! More! More! seems to be the catchcry of our generation - being content to live within our means and to have less than the Joneses next door is almost unheard of.

COMPARISONS

Facebook is constantly showing me pictures of my midlife friends tripping around the world, eating out at expensive restaurants, seeing the latest shows or buying new houses. This used to leave me feeling a little bit "less", but now I really don't care. I don't want to work more hours each week to have the extra I'd need to do these things. I don't want to trade my leisure for more work to earn more money to have more luxuries.

What's the matter with me? Why don't I want to be part of this consumer society? Why don't the multitude of catalogues arriving in my mailbox daily tempt me to go out and buy stuff I really don't need? Why don't I feel the need to compete and to out-do others? Why am I happy just being okay with my life as it is?

I guess it's because I see the other side of the coin. I see the cost involved and the stress and the price you pay for a lot of these 'added extras' and I don't want to pay the piper. There is a bible verse that says "Godliness with contentment is great gain" and I couldn't agree more. Contentment with what I have, being okay with the lifestyle I lead - it's all so restful. No striving, no competition, no envy, no dissatisfaction - just a sense of peace with my life and my place in the world.

Midlife Monday ~ Midlife - it's a time of contentment and self acceptance

PEACE AND CONTENTMENT

There is always more that we'd gladly take if it was offered at no extra cost. Later this week I'm doing 5 Birthday Wishes for my "Five Things Friday" post  (it's my birthday that day so I'm allowed to dream a little). But in all honesty, as much as it would be nice to have my wishes granted, I am quite happy with the way my life is right now.

I'm not perfect, my life isn't perfect, my marriage isn't perfect, my family and friends aren't perfect, my job's not perfect.....but despite the lack of perfection, everything is pretty darn fine. I wake up in the morning and I smile. Sometimes I have a gripe or two about my dodgy hip, or about having to go to work on a lovely sunny day, or about the lack of exciting things happening. We all have our moments of discontent, but for me they are truly 'moments' and are such a small part of my overall life.

LESS IS MORE

I'm not sure if it's an age and stage thing, or just the completion of a learning process, but this is a time of peace and contentment for me. I have financial security, a lovely husband, a home that feels like a haven, thriving grown and flown children who are happy in their lives, a beautiful grandbaby, a job that I actually enjoy going to, great friends.... and the list goes on. What more could I ask for? Luxuries are lovely, but Godliness and contentment are worth their weight in gold. 

I read somewhere "the more you have, the more you want" and that can be true for so many - so for me, less is more and life is grand - a time of contentment indeed!

Midlife Monday ~ Midlife - it's a time of contentment and self acceptance

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55 comments

  1. Great post! It's so nice to be at a place in life where your perspectives change.

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    1. it's so lovely to find out that I'm actually in a really happy place - I hope you are too Jose!

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  2. All so true ...... and I needed this reminder this morning! Thank you, Leanne! A reminder to find gratitude in what is and not focusing on what 'should' be. :) When I let go of my expectations with acceptance, good things happen.
    https://meinthemiddlewrites.com/

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    1. Letting go of expectations is such a huge learning curve Mary Lou, but it frees us up to enjoy the here and now - and that's what contentment is all about.

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  3. I have found that now that we are in our "retirement" sized home and it's decorated,I have no need to crazily acquire everything I see. It's a weird feeling but a good one.
    Carol
    http://carolcassara.com/all-souls/

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    1. It's nice to be able to buy an occasional "something" because you love it rather than feeling the need to acquire everything you see - and it saves a lot of money too :)

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  4. Contentment is nice! Good health and a safe and loving home and family, what else is there?

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    1. I don't think there's much more any of us could ask for Haralee - really those things sum up a good life don't they?

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  5. How beautiful to have such love, peace, joy and contentment in your life. Most people never realize what is actual important in life, until it is too late to enjoy it. You go girl!

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    1. Thanks Ellen :) It's such a waste to live life always looking for the next "hit" and missing out on those lovely little things we have right now. We need to slow down and smell the roses more often don't we?

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  6. Life is too short to want to live someone elses' - great post.

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    1. Couldn't have said it better myself Antionette :)

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  7. Love this, Leanne. How wonderful that you realize you're lucky. Some have all those things and don't see it. Sounds like you have a wonderful life, no doubt deserved.

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    1. Thanks Laurie - I think a lot of us have that wake-up moment in midlife when we stop and look around us and realize life is pretty darn good. Dwelling on the less than perfect parts is such a waste of time.

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  8. I think that at some point, the gift of midlife is contentment.

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    1. Me too Beth - if you don't get it by the time you're 50, then the next 50 years are going to be just as fraught as the first 50 - and that's really sad.

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  9. This is beautiful Leann and I could not agree more. I love the saying too, perfect!

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    1. It sums the whole idea of being content with everything being "okay" doesn't it Doreen? We don't need perfection or every luxury if we learn to enjoy what we have here and now.

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  10. I would say I'm contented about most things but not everything. However, I don't let it get me down.

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    1. There's always something that we can improve on isn't there Rebecca? The secret is to enjoy what you've achieved and quietly whittle away at those things you have on your "wish list"

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  11. It's so interesting how we change our perspective over time, isn't it? I also have lost interest in most material things, and I wouldn't trade my time or experiences for "luxuries." Those ARE luxuries!

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    1. I think we come to a point where competition and sacrificing our contentment for the sake of accumulating more stuff just loses its appeal Lois - that's when you know you've succeeded in life.

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  12. It is a precious thing to be content :-)

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    1. It most certainly is Janet - and so nice to find it in my life :)

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  13. I love your perspective and agree with you 100%!
    Estelle

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    1. thanks Estelle - it's a lovely place to find ourselves in isn't it?

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  14. This is wonderful, Leanne! And I agree. It is so easy to look over the fence and see what everyone else has. Why not look inward and count our own blessings!

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    1. So true Diane - if we stop envying others and start appreciating our own blessings, life becomes much more serene.

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  15. Just perfect! I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks for all the great reminders of what's really important in life.

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    1. My pleasure - I wanted to encourage others to think about how good their life really is, and stop looking at what they don't have. :)

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  16. I agree ... the more you have the more you want, and I also agree about not wanting to pay the piper! Yes, it's a precious thing to be content. I love your outlook on life :) I'm content most of the time - especially when I'm walking in the country - that's my me space of true contentment. Jo ~ Lifestyle Fifty #teamlovinlife

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    1. I think we all have special places where we feel connected to ourselves and at peace Jo - that's what contentment is all about ultimately.

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  17. I agree too. Life isn't about having the best of everything, it's about making the best of what you have

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    1. Exactly! Life doesn't have to be perfect as the world sees it - it needs to be appreciated and then it becomes perfect in its own way.

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  18. You're so right Leanne. At this stage in life, I feel more contented and less competitive. I do things because I want to do them, not because I feel compelled to do them. It's bliss! :) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Bliss is the perfect adjective isn't it Lyndall - I love that midlife brings that sense of release and the freedom to let others do what they want without having to compete!

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  19. Oh I love what you've said about contentment. It's something I strive for and I think I'm closer than I used to be when I expected far more of myself and others! #teamlovinlife

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    1. I'm loving that I've finally found that place of being at peace with my life Deb - it's a strange feeling after all those years of striving - but a great feeling none the less :)

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  20. I love the peaceful confidence that has come with my mid life. I wouldn't change my age for the world because it has brought with it so much wisdom and a soothing inner peace that I would never have imagined possible back in my younger adult years.
    Thanks so much for joining the Lovin' Life Linky! Hope to see you back next Thursday.
    #TeamLovinLife

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    1. It was a pleasure to find the Linky Leanne (you can tell we were born in the 60/70's era by that name!) and I completely agree about finding so much peace at this stage of life - it's a lovely time indeed.

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  21. You have hit the nail right on the head here Leanne. We do live in a competitive world where there is so much pressure on us to have material possessions, thriving careers, have a full life with overseas travel and dining out at fancy restaurants, when sometimes all we want is to live life simply. I enjoy a lot of the simple things in life and hate being competitive with anyone, whose life looks more interesting on the exterior, because I have grown to realise that what you see on the outside isn't necessarily true. I love my simple life blogging, walking my dog, photography nature, trips away in the caravan and spending time with my family. :)

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    1. I've found the same thing Kathy - often the people I thought had it easiest were fighting battles behind the scenes that I never dreamt of. I'll take midlife mellow any day - especially now Spring is finally setting in and the days are so beautiful - what's not to love?

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  22. I'm over the top and well into midlife - I absolutely love my life now and have never been happier #Dreamandsparkle

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    1. I'm the same Christine - who'd have thought that this time of life would be so special and so much fun?!

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  23. It's so great that you have that kind of inner peace and general contentment with life. I think when you just start feeling great about what you have it makes a world of difference. Not comparing yourself to others really helps too. Thanks so much for sharing this at #Dreamandsparkle we hope to see you back next week.

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    1. Thanks Kat - I hope I give you something to look forward to about getting older - it's not all downhill and boring, it's a great stage of life and so pleasant to be in.

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  24. This is such a great post, I too can be guilty of comparing myself to others especially on facebook! Thanks for joining us at #DreamandSparkle and hopefully see you next week!

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    1. Comparison really is the thief of joy isn't it Nikki - and facebook can be a killer in that regard. I decided a while ago to moderate what comes into my inbox - anyone who plasters their amazingness all over the place gets blocked - it's better for my mental health!

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  25. What a lovely post, I'm so happy that you're having such a nice time :)

    #DreamsAndSparkles

    (http://accidentalhipstermum.com)

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    1. Thanks Jen - it's a great stage of life and one I bet you'll be rocking when your turn comes!

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  26. Leanne, love this post! I so agree with you! Must tweet this now.

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    1. thanks so much Jean - I'm not a tweeter, so anybody who does it for me gets brownie points :)

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  27. I used to collect various things, (dolls, lighthouses, salt and pepper shakers) but now I am decluttering, no more collecting and junking up the house with all that stuff! I wonder now why I ever wanted it all when what I want now is peace and joy, a clean house, and time to just enjoy the good things in life, the really important things like family, good friends, and our precious grandbabies. I saw you featured at Blogger's Pit Stop and thought I'd invite you to party with us at Blogging Grandmothers Link Party at ( http://grammysgrid.com )

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    1. Thanks so much for the invitation - I would love to link up - you sound like you are on exactly the same wavelength as me when it comes to whats important and valuable and what can be discarded without a backward glance!

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  28. That is such a great Post! I am now retired, except for my Blog. I do enjoy talking to my other Blogger Friends. I am also decluttering, I find I just don't want extra stuff. I don't enjoy spending money on Me. My Husband and I would rather buy materials to fix up our house. We don't go out and Party, what a waste of time and money. We'd rather spend a quiet time at home with each other. Life is good.

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.