Monday, August 31, 2015

Complacent = Content?

Lately, it feels like I'm living a complacent life.  I'm not particularly trying to make any changes or improvements, and you know what?  I'm OK with that.  I know this isn't the norm for most healthy-living bloggers - usually you'll see them writing about how they're trying to lose weight, or actively working to maintain a weight loss, or trying to achieve a particular workout/exercise goal...and if you've read this blog for any length of time, you'll know that I've worked toward all of those goals in the past, too.

I could be a little thinner, but why?  I'm able to eat what feels right and stay at this size without a lot of effort, so why restrict my food intake more than what I already do?  A few less pounds isn't going to make any difference in my happiness, nor my health.

I could push myself to run a half marathon in under a specific time, but really, who cares?  I run year-round, and that's enough for me. 

Recently, I was encouraged to apply for a patient services job at the hospital where I'm volunteering, and for a hot minute I went online and looked at the job description.  Then I remembered that I'm going to visit my parents in the fall, and we're planning on visiting our son over Christmas, and right now I don't have to ask for time off from a job to do that.  I also don't have to be somewhere on a regular basis more than once a week, and I'm especially good with that.

Some may say I lack ambition, and that's not entirely true - I taught myself how to knit socks recently, and anyone who's knitted socks knows what an ambitious undertaking that is.

I think complacency gets a bad rap.  Maybe it's because I don't have anything to prove - I don't have job or career ambitions, and I'm not trying to impress anyone.  I have one day that's a bit on the hectic side, but even that calms down by mid-afternoon.  I have time to run and write and knit and meet up with friends and even go outside and water the plants.

Do we (the royal) really have to be crazybusy and exhausted to make like meaningful?  Is it OK to coast along?  I'm on the side of coasting - but then, I'm complacent...and I'm content.

34 comments:

  1. Im coasting right now but by virtue of needing to coast.
    And Im ok with that.

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  2. I cannot tell you how much I love this post!

    No we don't have to be crazybusy and exhausted to make life meaningful. Please not! I love to sit at home on a Saturday night with R. and Bella and just watch a movie, you couldn't make me happier. And I'm 47 and in my case I don't have to run a half marathon.

    I am complacent with my life like you and I'm happy.

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    1. I'm with you - staying home most nights is nice!

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  3. I see your ability to live life this was as a huge blessing. A lot of people don't even have the choice so the fact that you do and realize what is best and healthiest for you, is great. You can still have ebb and flow within that complacency so I don't see it as boring at all.

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    1. Ebb and flow is a good term - sometimes I take on more, and that's OK for a while, but I am really liking my slower-paced life right now.

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  4. Great post, Shelley! The world is always screaming in our face about being skinnier, faster, richer, blah blah blah. Being happy with YOUR life and creating a life that works for YOU is really where it's at. And we need to be reminded of that all the dang time!

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    1. Thanks, and absolutely...this is what works for me, and maybe it's my age/experience talking, but so much of what the world screams that we need? We don't.

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  5. YES! Love this! I often wonder about people who feel the need to "stay busy" or always have a challenge going on. What are they really trying to fulfill. Sounds like you've got it together to me.

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  6. I wrote a post about the difference between being actually happy, versus just being content/complacent last year after my divorce happened, since that was one of the driving forces. I realized that I hadn't actually asked myself if I was happy in years, and was focusing on the wrong things in terms of happiness. To me, it felt like I was just going through the motions in many areas of my life, so I did feel like complacency was a negative thing for me. But I'm pretty content with my life now that things have settled back down, and know many others who feel content with exactly where they're at too.

    You have a solid routine that works for you, and you're happy and healthy. Those are the important things.

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    1. I feel like I've weeded out the stuff that wasn't beneficial to me, which sounds a lot like what you did over the last year. Life is too short to spend it in an unhappy state.

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  7. Being crazy busy and exhausted does not make life meaningful. I think each of us has our own definition of what a meaningful life is.

    On another subject. Can you recommend a sock pattern that uses the magic loop method? I do all my knitting on circulars as it is and I watched a couple of YouTube
    videos on it and now I can't wait to dive in.

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    1. I've had the Plain Vanilla pattern in my Ravelry library for a while now - the directions are for magic loop, and the pattern looks pretty simple. I use a 9-inch circular for my socks - but I do have to use dpn's for the heel and the toe. I'm excited for you to knit your first pair of socks!
      http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/plain-vanilla-socks

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  8. I hate that some think being complacent is a bad thing. Life is to short to be scrambling round like a maniac, unless of course that's what you like to do. I for one am content with my little, quiet life, doing what I need to just be productive enough to feel good. Now, for the weight loss part, I'm still in that scrambling around like a maniac stage...but I'm learning😃

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  9. Complacency can be either or. Sometimes it is great to just go with the flow, other times challenging yourself brings excitement. I have trouble slowing down sometimes mostly because there are just so many things in life I want to try to do. Projects make me happy, but I know that is not the case for other people.

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  10. I will admit Shelley, I am jealous about all your free time and what I could do with it. I've had a job since I was 16 years old so 31 years of working and at least another 20 before I can stop. Enjoy the life you have - I know you are grateful for it.

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  11. This post deserves a round of applause!! You've done the hard work, now it's time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor and coast for awhile. Nothing wrong with that at all!! :)

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  12. Such an interesting topic. I waited to comment because I wanted to read other people's comments. I think about this a lot, sometimes wondering if I have become complacent. But I think mostly that I am content. Especially when I take a little trip and I find myself thinking that I would have enjoyed myself more just staying home!

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    1. I love how happy you are with your home and your barky surroundings. :)

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  13. It sounds like you are very content with your life right now, and that's pretty freakin' awesome.

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  14. There are two definitions to complacent, one having to do with being satisfied, and the other to being apathetic. Obviously, the latter having a more negative spin. I don't see you as being apathetic AT ALL. It's wise to recognize that you are content now, and a blessing that you are. I'm there in some aspects of my life, but not others.

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    1. I've read some stuff on complacency having a negative spin, but I couldn't come up with a more appropriate feeling, so I went with it in a positive way. :)

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  15. I think contentment is a wonderful gift. I had that talk with my financial planner when he congratulated me for being a consistent investor. I just told him I don't want a lot of things.

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    1. I wish I had that thought, about not wanting a lot of things, earlier. As it is, I'm pretty much there now (with the exception of yarn, of course).

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  16. I think you are content and in control. You get to do the things you want to do. What a treat and a luxury. I work part time and enjoy the freedom my flexible schedule gives me. Your post reminds me that I need to go give my husband a big hug and thank him for all he does so I can be content too:)

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    1. Yes, it's pretty nice to be married to a good provider, isn't it? :)

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  17. I've said it befroe, and I'll say it again, you are an inspiration!!!!!!!

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  18. Very helpful post for me today.

    I wish I had been content not pushing myself to the next decade lower. The frustration of not getting there easily and pushing beyond what I was capable, sent me off the wagon. Back on today, and am choosing to be happy to eat well, in control with moderate exercise. Thanks for this.

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    1. Interesting about your pushing it and going off the wagon. Hard, hard lesson to learn. :(

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  19. I love this post ... because I can relate! I am not a goal setter and am pretty happy with my day to day life and the small things I do. I am not motivated to always be chasing something. And I think that is TOTALLY fine! :)

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  20. Great post. I like the idea of being content more than complacent. Content means that I am giving ample effort and getting ample results and I feel ok about them both. Complacent sounds like I am a little short and don't really care enough to try to do better. I find that living by my values is more important than living by what others expect of me. Perhaps they would say that I am complacent about reaching their expectations .... smile. I would simply say that I am content with being and doing me ... Thanks for making me think.

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