Encouragement

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A writer friend just introduced me to an old word that describes a state of contentment in a visceral way. Using it feels like opening a window in a stuffy room.

GRUNTLED

Although ‘gruntled’ may have derived originally from ‘grumble’ with ‘disgruntled’ being an intensification, I really like this word and all it implies. There is a state of bliss where ‘gruntled’ says it all.

It brings to mind:

the low rumble and feel of a cat’s purr,

a toasty bed on a winter night with wind and snow blowing,

the satisfaction of a delightful meal without being too full,

a chewing of the cud by a cow with her eyes at half mast,

the slow wakening after a full night’s sleep,

a wallow in cool mud for a pig, finding the right shady spot to sleep,

the low-throated nicker of a mare to her new foal,

a full tub of warm water after a day of aching muscles,

the sounds of a sucking infant,

a child cuddling with a parent before bed, reading a favorite book together.

It feels elusive, this ‘gruntlement’, but so accessible, so every day, so simple. I want to put away my disgruntled thoughts and focus on the gruntleds. By naming them, and remembering them, and anticipating them, my days might be even fuller of little gruntled moments. May I be so blessed…

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