Ever since I retired people ask the same question in various ways.
- “How do you like retirement?” Generally equivalent to “How are you?”
- “Are you bored?” These folks can’t imagine not working.
- “What do you do all day?” The direct challenge approach.
- “Are you happy?” Here’s the one that gave me pause.
I don’t recall people asking “Are you happy?” directly at other times in my life. It must be something about the transition from work to retirement that prompts this question and I didn’t know how to answer it right away. Then the word ‘content’ started popping into my head.
Is there a difference between happiness and contentment? Of course there is. I’m sure you can be found in the dictionary. But what do the two states of being FEEL like? What do you think? I welcome your thoughts on this.
Giving it my best shot, I’d say contentment is truly a state of being. It is not necessarily dependent on someone or something. Happiness, while it can be considered a state, and not to be knocked, is more a reaction and that said, has the characteristic of being wonderfully fleeting. It’s the difference between ‘Cheers!’ & ‘Namaste’. I’m going for both in equal measure.
Well said Mr E.
Happiness is playing with a puppy or watching a grandchild fly her first kite, feeling young and vibrantly alive. Contentment is working long hard hours in the spring garden, followed later by smelling your fragrant roses, while your feet rest on a log.
L. G. Emerson