Loved pets seem to be a pretty good model of contentment.
My mother was a role model of contentment. Even when facing challenges, her love and grace shone through.

It helps to break me out of black-and-white thinking patterns.
It becomes harder to make assumptions and generalisations.
It helps me to feel more comfortable with my own flaws as a human.

A kind and thoughtful message from a friend, who I know has a very full and busy life, but made the time to reach out to me.

A finite collection of days and nights, each with their own physical and emotional weather, choices, challenges and opportunities to connect, love, learn and grow.

As others have mentioned, it might feel weird and exhausting attempting to look through this lens every moment. My plan is to use this mindset if I’m feeling a bit flat in everyday routines and also if I become aware that I’m less present than I could be with others. Life is extraordinary. It is also unpredictable and finite. Our connections with other living beings are precious.

A terminallly ill relative. I get tangled up in sadness and grief. Practising gratefulness could help make the most of the time remaining.

Try not to take things personally, especially if you’re feeling a bit down. Assume the best about people and their intentions, if you possibly can.

I think anyone able to read and write and with internet access enabling us to be here on this site is fortunate.
I am extremely fortunate to be living in a country without restrictions on meeting others, especially with a family member in palliative care. Saying goodbye is so very hard, but it is a privilege to have the opportunity.

This question assumes that one doesn’t already consider their life extraordinary. Isn’t ordinary life also, in many ways, extraordinary? This question also makes it sound like we hold ourselves back. Do we?
I think this question has hit a nerve for me, just at the moment. As someone who puts a lot of expectations on themselves, I instead need to practice that what I do is enough. I am enough.

My personal favorites:
Where do bees go to the bathroom when they are travelling?
BP stations.

Did you hear about the two peanuts walking down the road?
It was terrible – one of them was a salted!

This is close to home, with a family member in palliative care. There is already grief. Thank you for your reflections, which I know I will return to.

Listen more. If someone shares that they are having a hard time, telling them about your / someone else’s hard(er) time isn’t necessarily what they need. Choose your timing carefully if you are tackling a tricky topic. If someone hurts your feelings, let them know. If you need to talk – or need to not talk – let the other person know. People like to help and will try and do the right thing, if they can figure out what that is.

Humbling because when you acknowledge all your blessings, in their many forms, you become more aware of others who are less fortunate, through no fault of their own.

Cute, Elaine!

I like that, as a daily morning question – thanks for sharing, Melissa.

Thank you for this reminder, John.

This made me laugh

I’m sure, one day, you will have energy and hope again. That you have compassion for others is an example of hope. Wishing the best to you.

Thank you for sharing – I know I will return to this post

Interesting question. I think it might be a combination of a receptive and supportive community, not feeling you are burdening others by sharing your own challenges, and less chance of being hurt by someone responding (or not responding) in a certain way when you do share. It’s a somehow a mix of closeness and anonymity.