Category Archives: Contentment

Longing for an island

Posted on March 14, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

While holidaying in the Virgin Islands, magazine editor William Falk each day found himself gazing across the water to a little island and thinking that’s where he’d like to be – a place where life was simple. ‘My problem,’ he … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Contentment, Escape, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

My little red car

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

I remember the first time I saw my little red Renault 750, sitting in a used car lot. It was my first car and I fell in love with it. It didn’t go very fast and sounded like a chaff … Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Disatisfaction, enjoyment, Envy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The more I have the more bored I am

Posted on February 25, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Family psychologist John Roseman has spent years researching the perennial problem of children complaining that they are bored. He reported that parents in less affluent countries tend to look at him with disbelief when he asks if their kids complain … Continue reading →

Posted in Affluence, Boredom, Contentment, Meaninglessness, Purpose in life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

I wish I’d kept that

Posted on December 20, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

A friend of mine who works in real estate told me about a man who became increasingly envious of his friends because they had larger homes. So he listed his house with an estate agent, planning to sell it and … Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Disatisfaction, enjoyment, Envy, Gratitude | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Nothing is as bad as it seems when you’ve known something worse.

Posted on December 18, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old Jewish story about a man In Budapest who goes to the rabbi and complains, ‘Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?’ The rabbi answers, ‘Take your goat into … Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Happiness, Joy, Living Life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Do you want to retire rich or retire well

Posted on November 23, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Ralph Warner, in his best-seller, ‘Get a Life: You Don’t Need a Million to Retire Well,’ urges people looking towards retirement to think about more than just financial matters. He interviewed dozens of contented retirees and was unable to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Contentment, Happiness, Living Life, love, Retirement, Wellbeing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Envy rots the bones

Posted on October 8, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Researchers at the University of Atlanta recently conducted tests on a group of monkeys whereby each monkey had to pick up a small stone and bring it to the researcher. Each time they did it they’d receive a slice of … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Bitterness, Contentment, Disappointed, Envy, Moods | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Happiness is not a destination

Posted on May 10, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

One of life’s persistant myths is that things will be better when we get to a certain point we haven’t reached yet – like when the mortgage is paid off, when the kids leave home, when we make that sea … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Attitude, Awareness, Contentment, Happiness, Journey, Life's journey, Living Life, Making the most of what you've got, Spiritual discernment, thankfulness | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s in the bag?

Posted on March 26, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old legend about three men each carrying two sacks, one on their back and one on their front.. When asked what was in the sacks, the first said, “On my back are all the good things that have … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Attitude, Bitterness, Blessings, Contentment, Encouragement, Futility, Hope, Inspiration, Life's journey, Living Life, Making the most of what you've got, Seeing the possibilities, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual discernment, thankfulness, Troubles, Trust in God, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No ‘Ifs’ about it.

Posted on March 26, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The great pianist Artur Rubinstein said: “As long as we have what we have inside, the capacity to love, to work, to hear music, to see a flower… nothing can stop us from being happy…but we must get rid of … Continue reading →

Posted in angry with God, Artur Rubinstein, Attitude, Contentment, Discernment, If, Life's journey, Living Life, Making the most of what you've got, Regret, Seeing the possibilities, Spiritual Insight, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment