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Contentment
Contentment

Learn English with this contentment English lesson

Date: Dec 25 2018

Themes: Health

Grammar: Contractions and Abbreviations

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Here’s a big question. Are you satisfied? Do you have everything you want or need? It’s a difficult question to answer. Some people feel gratitude for being healthy, working at a job, and having a place to sleep. It gives them peace of mind. But other people are unsatisfied unless they’re searching for the next best thing. To them, having food and a home aren’t enough.

The grass is always greener on the other side!” It’s an expression that means that other people always seem to be doing better than we are. But if we spend all of our time feeling apprehensive and wondering if we’re as successful as our friends, how can we enjoy life? Isn’t it better to think about what we have instead of what we don’t have?

Marni and Rafael have very different opinions about what makes them happy. Learn more in today’s English lesson about feeling good about oneself and one’s life.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Rafael

Rafael

Marni

Marni

Rafael:  So, I have this whole schedule ahead of me.

Marni:  OK.

Rafael:  But the thing is, I’m really peaceful. Really happy, really satisfied, really content with how things are right now. So I’m just wondering, do I even need to go on all these scheduled jobs, and trips, and vacations, and all that kind of stuff?

Marni:  If you have just total peace of mind where you are right now, and you’re feeling apprehensive about some of these things, then perhaps, but…

Rafael:  Not just peace of mind, Marni… gratitude.

Marni:  OK. For everything you have?

Rafael:  Yeah.

Marni:  That’s great. That’s really great. I wish I could have that. I’m always, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” I’m always looking for the next best thing.

Rafael:  Would you describe yourself as searching?

Marni:  Definitely. I always feel like I’m not living up to my potential. And there’s something else I should be doing that will make me content, but I haven’t found it yet.

Rafael:  So you’re unsatisfied, in other words.

Marni:  Yeah. I would say that’s true.

Rafael:  Well, good luck to you.

Marni:  Thanks. I need it!

 

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Discussion

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Rafael feels good. He’s satisfied with his life right now because it seems like everything is going well. In fact, Rafael is more than just pleased… he’s thankful for his happiness.

Marni wishes that she was as happy with her situation as Rafael is, but she’s not. She’s always looking and hoping for something better to happen, and she often feels like other people are more successful than she is.

Are you content with your life? What could you change to make you happier or more satisfied?

 

Comments

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4aron

4aron

United States

I have been content before, but, sadly, right now I can’t say I am. Things have been a bit rough, but if I do my best and get out there and make some good friends I’m sure soon I will be again.

12:46 PM Mar 14 2019 |

1 person likes this

bora_78

bora_78Super Member!

Turkey

I really a satisfied person because I am healthy , I have a wife who loves me very much,I have evrything  I want, but I am thinking of the world is unfair mostly.

09:53 AM Dec 25 2018 |

vik32

vik32

India

i am content with life because i can never have all but it doesnot mean i shouldn’t live up to potential.

12:37 PM Dec 14 2014 |

1 person likes this

Niyati

Niyati

China

just like Marni

11:30 AM Dec 07 2014 |

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.

Khalil Gibran
*

There’s no happier person than a truly thankful, content person.

Joyce Meyer
**

Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.

Benjamin Franklin


10:48 PM Dec 01 2014 |

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

10:38 PM Dec 01 2014 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Thanks God  i have all my basic necessities covered,but that doesn`t mean that i am happy all the time.Although i receive a pension from the government  i have to work  to increase my income ,otherwise i wouldn`t be able to pay for the internet ,cable ,utilities and expenses. The pension that i receive is only a paliative to get by , allowing me only to buy bare necessities. .   Deep in my heart i know that i shouldn`t complain ,to be content with myself and to  practise everyday to see that the glass of water is half  full  and not half empty.Uppermost now i must value my health , money come and go.  

09:15 PM Dec 01 2014 |

Jasonlongo

Jasonlongo

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

I still am at the bottom of my life but I think that Imma live up my potential.


All the time walkin’ with “One Step At a Time” There’s nothing to rush in life.

11:47 AM Dec 01 2014 |

Ditti

Ditti

Hungary

I am content with my life because I have a family, I have a job and I have a house to live in and the most important thing that me and my family are healthy. But in my opponion a man can’t be satisfied with everything. You have to thankful for your happiness and what you have. But you also have to desire something new thing, a new goal, a new plan in your life. You always need a purpose that you work for. It can be a new job, a better and healthier lifestyle, a new sport maybe a new language or just a new hobby. Not because the grass is always greener on the other side, just for myself. You have improve in your life,you must be motivated! :-)


There is a very good prhase by Les Brown.about what I mean:


“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry our their dream.”


And there is a link to read more if you like it:


https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/57803.Les_Brown?page=1


08:29 AM Dec 01 2014 |

whipiry

whipiry

South Korea

I feel like i don’t live up to my potential …maybe it seems that the grass is always greener on the other side…i don’t know…


i try to have peace of mind…it is not easy sometimes…but i other times feel like gratitude about things around me.


things apprehensive happing now aroud me…always do…not to me but to everyone.


06:36 AM Dec 01 2014 |

jorgeguevara61Super Member!

Colombia

yes, I am very content with my life, I have everythings to make me happier and satisfied, for example my family, the job, the firends, the study and my profession


 

03:17 AM Dec 01 2014 |

jorgeguevara61Super Member!

Colombia

The life has very contentment, the study, the job, the family, the wife and the sons, but the best contentment is to be in pace  with god.

02:52 AM Dec 01 2014 |

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