Opinion Andrew Frere Smith has discovered the source of true contentment. Contentment is a word that troubles me. My dictionary defines it as “a state of happiness and satisfaction”. I used to regard it as something that was reserved for the slipper-wearing elderly, whose careers had ended and who regularly enjoy a sherry at 6pm by the fireside.
I have known many happy and satisfying times in my life, but I have also known times when contentment has eluded me. As a child my discontent normally took the form of boredom. As an adult, it was deep frustration that robbed me of peace, usually fuelled by people in authority making poor decisions.