Grateful in finding peace

I interpret happiness as a form of gratitude for the blessings I have received now and previously, this is a simple description of my life for the last 40 years.

Do I often complain and live in despair? As social creatures and living in a complex environment, unstable economic conditions give rise to vulnerability. I assume everyone will experience the same thing.

Only with effective coping mechanisms can you find depth in life, even in simplicity. Fulfilling needs is an important indicator of achieving peace and happiness, but is not a guarantee.

Personal experience has shown that peace/happiness is not obtained from promising financial factors.

After graduating with Diploma III in Nursing in 2004, with a graduation certificate (replacement for a diploma), I had a job with a fantastic salary. Previously I assumed that by having stable finances, I would gain happiness, and be able to fulfil all primary, secondary and even tertiary needs.

It turns out that this view that was formed during my dormitory education was wrong, when I was in the dormitory for 3 years, I lived with other students with a stable financial background, they didn't even like the food menu provided in the dormitory dining room, every time it was time to eat, my colleagues Other students always order other food outside.

With all my limitations, I just enjoy every available facility, it is impossible to follow their lifestyle. At that time what crossed my mind was "How happy they are, able to fulfil their every need, but not me".

This paradigm continued to form until after completing 3 years of education, I was obsessed with changing my current life, to be like them. Studying is one form of what I do because the knowledge I gain will be important capital in getting a decent job with a fantastic salary.

The tsunami in December 2004 was the beginning of my awakening because I got to work with world organizations such as the World Food Program and the American Red Cross. Having my job location in a disaster-affected area apparently didn't hinder my intention to collect it as future savings.

I started doing this for the first 6 months, but it turned out that the income I was getting and being able to meet my long-delayed needs didn't make me happy. I thought about it as the night was getting late, sitting in front of the post for handling tsunami victims which was located between the refugee barracks.

It turns out that the paradigm of "money as a source of peace and happiness" is wrong. I began to realize that the existence of it all is gratitude. Be grateful for what you have now and be better in the future.

Being away from my family was one of the reasons, I had difficulty finding happiness and peace, how could it not be, my parents were sick at that time and needed my support, regular consultations with a specialist in internal medicine and accompanying them when they were elderly.

The previous paradigm began to shift, I chose to use the holiday time to return home and meet my family and it turns out I have found that happiness. There were feelings that had been lost for a long time, and I found them again, they were one of the important reasons for realizing peace and happiness at that time.

I started telling him about this when we gathered together, and they said that what I did was not wrong, every child goes through this phase, and the most important thing in obtaining happiness/peace is being able to be grateful for the blessings that are currently obtained, then continue to try to be better. by increasing deeds of worship to Almighty God.

I have implemented this important lesson in my life after getting married and having a beautiful daughter. I really appreciate the time and essence of a complete family.

Working at the Ministry of Health has been a dream for a long time, I thought that there I could develop my career and get a better life. But I decided to bury that dream because my family and my wife were declared to have passed the Aceh Government employee selection.

It is impossible for me to transfer to the Ministry of Health, how can we find happiness in our household if we have to move to the national capital, while my wife works in the provincial capital. it will take quite a long time to be together, considering the quite long distance.

The days of living together with sufficient income do not encounter obstacles, I appreciate every moment to be together, share stories and find happiness through even the smallest things.

Monday to Friday is an effective time for me at the office and includes free time on the Steemit platform. I'm happy to be able to carry out a routine like this, especially since Saturdays and Sundays focus on family.

Taking advantage of time together such as going to the beach, eating out and other positive activities continues to be on the important list in the family. everything feels perfect, life is peaceful, safe and prosperous.

Indonesia, Juni 29, 2024

^@irawandedy