Backpack Series: Contentment

Hindi ko maiwasang ikumpara ang aking backpack sa ibang bag na nakikita ko. Merong mas ok, may mas maganda ang kalidad, meron din namang may mas mababang klase sa kung anong meron ako. Sa tuwing dadaan ako sa mga tindahan or shopping malls na merong mga bags, madalas kong isipin na magpalit at bumili ng bagong backpack. I don’t know if it’s human nature na kapag may nakita kang bago at mas nakahihigit sa kung ano mang meron ka, nanaisin mo na mapasa’yo.

I remember one client who was not satisfied with his house. So, he asks our services to renovate as per his preferred interior and design. During construction, that was one heck of a job. You know why? Every time na pupunta sya sa site, laging may pinapabago. Worst thing is, pag may nagustuhan sya sa kapitbahay nya na gamit or anything na bago, he wants it also to put in his house. That was totally crazy, kasi kahit nagawa na, ipapatanggal nya at babaguhin! Kala ko nga dina matatapos ang bahay nya. Anong tawag don? Inggitero ba o di makontento?    

Someone send me a text message that best describes what contentment is all about or some sort of being satisfied and stop complaining.

Text:      Today, don’t think of saying any UNKIND WORD, think of the people who can’t speak.

              Don’t complain about the FOOD you eat, some have nothing.

              Don’t complain about LIFE, many die young.

 When you are tired of your job, think of the jobless, the disabled & those who wish they had yours.

 When SAD thoughts seem to put you down, paint a SMILE on your face & thank GOD you are   

 alive and you are still around.

Mauubos panahon mo sa kakareklamo dahil hindi ka makontento sa mga bagay bagay sa paligid mo. Instead of living your life to the fullest, you are wasting your time complaining. Nawawala ang essence ng appreciation in your day to day living. Kung pamilyado kang tao, baka nga pati sarili mong pamilya, di mo na rin maappreciate dahil abala ka sa mga bagay na pilit mong hinahangad. Hindi masama ang magnais magkaroon ng mga material possession in life, ang masama ay ang ma possess ka to acquire those material things! Believe me, it’s a never ending process. You will want more and more and more and more… until you are consumed with that unhealthy desires.   

Remember this:

“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 quotes (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

Guilty? It’s never too late. Madalas nating marinig, “habang may hininga, may pag-asa.” What we need to do is, stop for a while, take a break, and appreciate life, God’s precious gift to us. Madalas ang problema natin, di na tayo humihinto sa ating mga pinagkaka-abalahan. Ayan tuloy, we missed a lot of wonderful things, people and events in our life.

I know someone who had a very tough job. She was always on the go. She’s always fired up about work. Pressures left and right consumes her daily. Then realization came. A wake up call to leave her job though the pay -off is quite big. The reason? Her family. Mas mahaba pa ang oras na inilalagi nya sa trabaho compared to the time spent with her family. She realizes it’s time to quit and spent more time sa pamilya nya. And for her, that was the best decision na ginawa nya. Marami ang nanghinayang sa opportunity, but now she knows her priority.

Kung ikaw ay may backpack na kagaya ko, marahil nararanasan mo rin ito. Punuin na halos hindi mo na maisara ang zipper, tama? Minsan o madalas, life is like that… hakot ka ng hakot… lagay ka ng lagay ng mga kung ano-ano sa buhay mo hanggang sa mapuno ka na at halos sumabog. Aantayin mo pa ba na dumating sa punto na di mo na makayanan lahat?

Now it’s time to unload. Slow down and take it piece by piece. Parang sa pagkain, namnamin ang sarap ng buhay. Maging kontento at makikita mong gagaan ang lahat.

       

“Appreciate life itself even if it is not perfect. Contentment is not fulfillment of what you wish

for, but appreciation of what we have…”

1 Timothy 6.6 “Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.”

LIFE is a gift! LIVE IT WELL!