Monthly Theme: #JuneContentment

Flashback Summer - Monthly Theme: #JuneContentment

In the month traditionally known for being "wedding season," it can be easy to become discontent, to wish we were at a different stage of life, that things were like they were back then, that we were as great/smart/loved/pretty/happy as that other person.

Something I'm having to work on these days is trying to stop wishing I was further down the road in life.  "Someday, when I'm at my dream job…"  "Maybe someday I'll be able to do this…"  "It will be so much better when this is what my day looks like…"  or "Man, it would be so much better if I could just be at this point in my life already!"

Contentment is hard, especially living in a Western society that constantly screams, "Progress!"  "Ambition!" and "More!" in our ears all the time.  Discontent is everywhere we look.  It's in the makeup ad that promises better, clearer skin and fewer wrinkles.  It's in the internet ads you read on your commute that promise "Make money doing what you love!" as you dread going to your day job. It's even in the comparison we oftentimes get into in the vintage community over that girl with the perfect figure, the huge bakelite collection, the amazing blog stats, or the Si & Am skirt. (Haha.)

For me, (I'm gettin' all personal and Bible-y here for a moment) this quote from a Christian leader in the Bible named Paul sums it up, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through [God] who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)"  There are some situations in life that are unbearable, that are so difficult, that are so hard I'm not sure how I will stand up under the pressure.  I know that when I ask Jesus to help me carry a load that is too heavy for me, he's always there and ready to help.  I can be content in difficult situations because God gives me the strength to get through another day, and I know I'm not going to crumble.
Flashback Summer - Monthly Theme: #JuneContentment
So join with me and fight the man!  Rail against the machine of our society! Wave the contentment banner!  Find those things, however small, that you can be content about in the moment you are in.  Wear the dress that reminds you how awesome your legs are.  Take a walk out in nature to admire God's creativity.  Make time to grab coffee with that amazing friend you're so glad you have.  

I'll be tweeting and Instagramming something I have to be content about everyday using the hashtag #JuneContentment, and I'd love for you to join me!  Use the phrase #JuneContentment, and I'll re-tweet/re-gram one every day.  Let's help the vintage community embrace contentment a little more this month and, at the same time, remind ourselves of why this moment right now is great!


  1. Oh, I love this so much. Thanks, Emileigh! You are so encouraging! <3


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  3. Lovely idea. Like everyone, I struggle with the "When this is different, I'll be happy" thoughts - currently "when she can sit up by herself" "when she's sleeping again" "when she goes to school!" - but I try not to wish the wonderful current moments away.

    I love any project that will inject more positivity into life! I'm in :)

  4. Thank you so much for posting this Emileigh! I needed to hear this so badly this week. I'm definitely at a point in my life where I'm not really happy with some parts of it and it is so easy to forget about the good parts and just think about the bad ones. I have so many things to be thankful for and I know life could be so much worse (and is for so many people).

  5. You're so right! There is always something, no matter how small, that is positive and I think we need to pick out these things more often. Thank you for helping us to see this!

  6. Yes on so many levels! There is a scourge of discontentment in the world and I don't think that the web, especially social media, helps there in the slightest. I'm certainly not knocking either, but they can present us with so many daily reasons to feel (usually wrongly) that we're not measuring up, that we don't have enough, that we're not as happy or as far along in our lives as person X, etc and that is such a sad way to embrace the incredible gift that is each day of life. I'm all for goals, dreams and bettering oneself, but there is so incredibly much to be said for contentment and everyday happiness derived from the little things that ultimately make up the backbone of life, too.

    ♥ Jessica

  7. Thank you so much for this encouragement Emileigh!


    the Middle Sister and Singer