"Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn whatever state I am in, therin to be content."
Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)
Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)
posted by Michelle at 7:58 AM
Welcome to the Quote of the Day! This site originated in a small, special education, high school classroom and we talk about these quotes each morning on school days. We'll share our thoughts, feelings, and personal values as we explore the words of others. We look forward to hearing your thoughts as well. If you have a quote that you would like to see used, please send it to: michelle(dot)nvs(at)gmail(dot)com (all lower case).
posted by Michelle at 7:58 AM
4 Comments:
Any person who has learned to be content whatever state he or she is in... has, in my opinion, achieved the highest level of success attainable.
I'm really torn on this one.
There are situations that I know would be unbearable for me to be in (domestic violence, child abuse, bigotry, etc) and I think that I would move heaven and earth to get OUT of those.
I don't think that she is suggesting that we look for contentment in dire circumstances.
I read this to mean that we do not need to be entertained every waking moment of our lives and that we can find something new in and about ourselves during those times when we feel alone or in a funk in our lives.
Appreciate what is around you at all times. Enjoy the good times for what they are, and appreciate the bad times for what we learn from them (see yesterdays quote!).
I came back on this one. I thought of prisoners of war - those who survived concentration camps, & of how the one thing they held onto was hope.
I imagine that they thought of how they WOULD (future tense) some day use the ugly experience for good- if they made it through. Surely, they were NOT content in the sense that we the word is commonly used, but in the sense that they found ways - positive thoughts, looking toward brighter days, knowing that all things are impermanent ... to cope & experience just enough "contentment" or belief in future "contentment" to stay sane & not give up.
In this context, I think of "contentment" as a sliver of hope, keeping the faith, believing- despite circumstances that they would make it through... surviving the "full catastrophe".
I agree with Michelle,and think that it is much more common to feel discontented we are bored, feel stagnant, or blue... those are times, when we need to focus on our blessings so as not to become completely disenchanted with life.
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