Enough

Here in the land of the American dream, where we are raised on the concept that anything is possible, the sky often seems to be the limit. If we just work hard enough, long enough, smart enough, we are told, there is simply no stopping us. The problem with that statement, with that very mind set, is that it buries the meaning of a very important word: ENOUGH. In our consumer-driven, free-market, fast-paced society, enough has grown into a goal oriented word. It’s a mountain to climb, a position to achieve, a carrot to grab, the brass ring. It has become a word of conquest. My limited knowledge of world history indicates that conquest, by definition, can rarely be satisfied. I daresay that perhaps one of the biggest problems with modern humankind is that we are rarely satisfied, individually or collectively. As is my custom, I went to the dictionary and here are few of the definitions to be found for the word enough: as much as necessary, as much or more than is wanted, that satisfies desire or gives content, that may answer the purpose, that is adequate to the wants. And from a Hebrew bible dictionary I add: to rest, to be quiet or satisfied. Combine these definitions together and you begin to get a beautiful picture of satisfaction. An enoughness of peace. Our world says, “keep up with the Joneses.” It tells us that we must own or become certain things to be happy. The question we need to ask ourselves, however, is “are the Joneses happy?” In my experience, happiness rarely comes as a result of achieving the lofty goals in our lives. Happiness is something we bring along with us in the journey of life. It comes not from having what we want, but wanting what we have. No matter how far we climb up the proverbial ladder of success, there will always be someone on the wrung above us. There will always be someone who is richer, thinner or tanner. There will always be someone with a better car, a bigger house and newer, faster toys. And don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. However, happiness, real and lasting satisfaction, is clearly something which comes from the inside of us. So my question for you today is, can you look at areas of your life, breath a sigh of contented relief and simply say, “enough.” If we spend every moment of our lives in the pursuit of supposed better future moments we may wake one day to discover that the best ones have already been squandered. Let us all learn to say that magic word, to tell the people and things in our lives that they are enough. It doesn’t mean we can’t have or do more, only that we don’t need more. Start with your spouse and kids, your friends and family, your God. Let them know that they are enough. You might be very surprised by the response. With that done, we can begin to learn how to be truly happy, wherever and whoever we are.

Enough
Will we ever have enough
Indeed, are we ever free
From our longing to acquire more
Of each commodity
Is any rung upon the ladder
High enough that we can stop
Why are we driven to continue
If we have not reached the top
How often do we heave a sigh
And proclaim, “Ah yes, it’s done.”
Then just relax with what we have
Without a quest begun
Are our families and our jobs
Our homes and cars and friends
A means for reaching something else
Or do we gladly call them ends
When we use the word contentment
Can we claim it as our own
Or do we face an endless staircase
Of goals that we have set in stone
Which preclude us from enjoying
What we simply have and are
Because the demons of our own success
Still taunt us from afar
Yet, so often satisfaction
And the path to happiness
Lie along a different bearing
Then the ladder of success
And the man who would be happy
Must claim his blessings as enough
Must face the demons of achievement
Stand his ground and call their bluff
Then perhaps he’ll learn that happiness
Cannot be earned or bought
And the real battle for success
Is the one best left un-fought
By Frank Carpenter ©