One key to an enjoyable journey

We were sitting at a beachside restaurant, on what I would call a family date. Our two-year-old son was happily coloring both the paper they had given him and the table (a little artist with big ambitions, clearly). I took in the scene around me. Kids were running and playing, people were joyfully interacting, and the sun was beginning its slow descent, casting a golden glow over everything.

Living in the Caribbean has always felt like a blessing to me. No matter which island I find myself on, I always get a little sense of home. And in that moment, with the warm air around me, the sound of waves in the distance, and my little family by my side, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

Then my husband leaned in, ready to share a thought that had been on his mind: “You know, we might not be where we want to be yet, but…”   

Before he could finish, a thought sparked in my mind: Actually, I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be. 

Yes, I know there’s still a long road ahead. There are dreams yet to be fulfilled, goals still waiting to be reached and more battles to fight.  But after coming out of a difficult season that felt like an intense but necessary training I was finally experiencing a sense of rest. For the first time in a while, I wasn’t just looking ahead. I was fully present, fully content. And at the same time, I had this quiet confidence in the future plans God had for my life.

It’s easy to fall into the mindset of “I’ll be happy when…” When we reach that next goal, when life feels more settled, when things fall perfectly into place. We convince ourselves that joy is waiting for us somewhere down the road. But the truth is, if we don’t learn to embrace where we are now, we’ll always be chasing happiness—only to find that it keeps moving further ahead.  

I know firsthand that not every season feels easy to embrace. Some feel like waiting rooms. Others feel like uphill climbs. But even in those moments, there is something to be grateful for.

If contentment doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t worry-it’s something we can all practice. Here are a few simple ways to invite more contentment into your life:

• Practice gratitude. Take a moment each day to acknowledge what’s going well. Even the smallest of joys count.

• Let go of comparison. Your journey is yours alone-there’s no need to measure it against someone else’s.

• Be present. Instead of thinking about what’s next, try to fully enjoy what’s happening now.

• Celebrate progress. Even if you’re not “there” yet, recognize how far you’ve come.

Contentment doesn’t mean we stop dreaming or striving for more. It doesn’t mean we settle either. It’s about recognizing that joy isn’t just found in the destination, but in the steps we take along the way. 

That evening, I realized I wasn’t just waiting for life to happen—I was living it. I wasn’t holding my breath, waiting for the next thing to bring me happiness. I was here, present. And that feeling? That peace? That’s what contentment does. It allows us to stop rushing, stop striving, and actually enjoy the beauty of the journey.