The gift of enough

There is a quiet kind of joy that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. It’s not loud or flashy. It’s the kind that hums gently in your chest when you stop long enough to notice it…

It’s called contentment…

Most of my members know that I love Eddie Pinero, the American motivational speaker from “Your World Within”. With his calm, yet commanding voice, Eddie speaks not at you, but to you, and his content always feels personal, like a quiet reminder to keep going, keep believing, and keep building.

A few days ago, he said: “If you can’t find joy in a cup of coffee, you won’t find it in a yacht.’” This triggered my thoughts on contentment…

We are entering Week nine of our Winter Challenge tomorrow…And to me, witnessing the commitment of our members, right in the middle of this cold winter, is simply mind-blowing. But it also made me realize once again, that they chase so much. We all chase so much. Constantly. Results, recognition, goals, perfection. There IS beauty in ambition, but I’m learning, all over again, that there’s also magic in enough.

This past week I’ve felt the quiet tug of gratitude in unexpected places. After twisting my ankle and landing solidly on my butt last Thursday, I’ve come to realize just how much I took my body for granted. We so often complain about what our bodies can’t do, or how they should look, instead of simply being thankful that they carry us through life. That they heal. That they show up for us, even when we fall – literally.

I still wince a bit when I step the wrong way, but I can walk, and I can jump. I can move. And I was able to lead my members through our new Vertical Advanced Step routine on Thursday. What a blessing!

Then there are the sounds – not the music or playlists – but the real-life soundtrack that plays softly in the background of my days…

Like Nina’s loud, carefree, spontaneous laughter – that reminds me every time that joy doesn’t have to be planned. Sometimes it just bubbles up and spills over in the most ordinary moments.

There’s also the familiar, unmistakable energy of Jacqueline and Michelle – their voices rising above the beat, calling out reps, shouting encouragement, bringing the fire. A few times last week, I found myself thinking with a content smile, “What a gift” to have a team that carries your vision with such passion. (And this week we are welcoming Janke into our circle of instructors too!)

And oh, then – the magic in those few minutes before class starts – the loud chatter, even at 5.00 in the morning! The jokes. The bursts of laughter. The hugs. The “How was your weekend?”, and “My legs are still sore from Monday!” It’s the sound of people showing up – for themselves, for each other, and for this shared rhythm we’ve built together. Those easy-going and friendly women entering the studio, those familiar laughs and inside jokes… they’re not just noise. They’re joy. They’re the kind of moments that don’t make headlines, but they make a life. And that, to me, is contentment. Being present enough to notice the beauty in the ordinary – and grateful enough to realize it’s not ordinary at all.

The famous American life-coach, Tony Gaskins, recently said: “Contentment doesn’t mean you desire nothing. It means you are thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come…”

Being content means choosing to say to yourself, “This moment is enough…” But, I know, it’s easier said than done. I am witness to this fact, every day – so many women deal with a problem, or work on a goal, and I often hear them thinking out loud: “If I can just get through this issue, or reach that weight, or attain that body fat percentage, I will be able to relax and smile and be content…” It’s not wrong to yearn for more – but when we allow ourselves this present moment to be enough, our gratitude grounds us. It’s only then that we can look around us, see the beauty of being alive, and appreciate who we are and where we are.

Contentment isn’t having it all together and finding perfect balance between work and play. Nor is it an idyllic moment spent swinging in a hammock, sipping sweat tea, and reading a book on a cool afternoon while the world around you is falling apart. Contentment is not a life without longing and groaning. Contentment is not freedom from fear and anxiety. No, it’s about trusting the One who loves us most, and learning to be content no matter what’s going on…

In her insightful Blog, “Lead life well”, author Marvae Eikanas writes: “Success never leads to contentment, yet contentment leads to success.” Contentment is not about you giving up, settling, or being complacent – it’s simply about accepting fully where you are right now, and trusting that you’ll get to where you want to be.

So, if gratitude is focused on giving thanks for what we have, then I guess contentment is focused on finding peace with all we don’t have. As the Australian poet, Beau Taplin, recently wrote: “Happiness is not a check list. A dream job, a fast car, a good home, even love, mean nothing at all if you have not yet found a way to feel full and content in your own mind and heart…”

And, for our Challenge members, this is especially significant – Shifting your focus from striving to reach the destination, towards savouring the journey, also fits beautifully into the idea of contentment. Life isn’t just a series of checkboxes – it’s what happens in between the goals. If we’re always waiting for the dream body, we miss the beauty of morning routines, shared laughter, the cup of coffee in our hands, the struggle and growth that shape us.

Each step teaches something – and contentment is about finding meaning and even joy in those steps, no matter how small or insignificant they feel. If you can’t find peace in the now, the ‘then’ won’t bring it either.”

Let’s not just chase the big wins – let’s savour the small ones too. Let’s not just push forward – let’s pause and remind ourselves: “This is enough.” So, here’s to the ordinary things that make life extraordinary. The laughs, the noise, the recovery, and the people who colour our days with meaning.

Contentment isn’t settling – it’s seeing. Today, I see it all – and I’m thankful. I don’t have everything. But I have more than enough.

Yours in fitness

Mirna
082 779 0507

PS (Next week we are presenting Rebounding at an event in Nelspruit, so there won’t be a Blog.)