Glimmers and the Challenge of Contentment

Finding ease in the moment—contentment isn’t about staying still, but about embracing where I am right now. ✨

Here we are, a month into the new year, and I have to say—picking glimmer as one of my words for 2025 was a solid choice. Glimmers have been everywhere, little sparks of joy that remind me why I chose this word in the first place. Sledding with my kids and grandkids, celebrating 21 years of marriage with Don, laughing with my mom, sharing heartfelt talks with my sister, a Buckeye football championship, even those quiet moments under the stars when I take Indi, my wild-hearted husky, outside—glimmers, all of them. Easy to spot. Easy to hold onto.

Contentment, on the other hand? That’s a bit trickier.

I’ve said before that contentment doesn’t mean settling, but wow, does it feel like it sometimes. When the world feels heavy, when things seem unfair or painful, contentment can start to look suspiciously like inaction. And I don’t want to just sit back and say, “Well, this is fine” when it very much isn’t. But I’m learning that contentment doesn’t mean giving up—it means finding peace even while moving forward. It’s asking, How can I affect the change I want to see? What small thing can I do to make a difference?

And there’s always something. My yoga practices helps me to stay aware of when I’m getting caught up in fear or frustration - I feel it building in my body, my mind starts reeling and I start to feel overwhelmed. I can talk with friends and family and support organizations that align with my values. Contentment is hard, but I think that’s how I know it was the right word for me this year. It’s about learning how to sit with discomfort while also finding ways to take action.

I’ve often thought about this in terms of running and if you'd heard me talk about this during a dharma talk in class or seen me post about it, you can skip to the end :) Years ago, I logged so many miles—half marathons, a full marathon at Disney (which, by the way, if you’re going to run 26.2 miles, that’s the place to do it). Then I stopped. I was over it - the training, the push to go faster, farther, harder. It wasn't fun and I wasn't convinced it was really that good for my body. I was out on a walk one day and I felt the urge to run and.....it wasn’t the same. I wasn’t as fast (not that I ever really was fast). It was harder. And here’s the thing—contentment didn’t mean throwing up my hands and saying, Welp, I guess I’ll never run again. It meant acknowledging where I was in that moment, knowing that if I put in the time, it would get easier again.

I didn’t, by the way. Turns out, I’d rather hike or take a brisk walk these days. But I know that if I wanted to run again, I could. And I’m content with that.

So, I’m continuing to carry that lesson with me this year. I'm still working on it and some days are easier than others. The things I'm trying to bring contentment to aren't as clear cut as putting in miles running. But contentment isn’t about staying still—it’s about recognizing where I am, honoring the journey, and taking the next step forward, whatever that may be. And along the way, I’ll keep collecting my glimmers.

There's comfort in the support that comes from community, and I firmly believe that we have one of the best at A.J.S.! If you're comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear what’s keeping you inspired and committed to your 2025 word, goal, or resolution!