Enough is Enough

My entry today has come after a lot of thought. I think that this subject is personal, highly subjective, and probably a little bit fraught. It's the topic of "more" that I want to write about today.

We have been conditioned to strive in today's world. We are led to think that we should chase something bigger, better, faster...something now. And with that comes a whole host of other emotions. Haste, for one, because when you're chasing something, it's rarely a slow go. But there's quite often this feverish feeling that comes along with wanting more and I want you to slow down to think about what the net gain of that might be in your life.

I've done a lot of striving myself in life, so I've had time to think about this. My life as a teacher has provided me with a lovely existence. As I'm sure most of you are thinking, the weeks off during the summer months are a time to rejuvenate and fill my tank back up. But teaching has seldom been where it ends for me; I often engaged in a "side hustle." You've heard about the side hustle, right? It's another turn of phrase for striving. I've worked retail jobs, waitressed, bought a food truck and had the pleasure of running my own business. I've always been a writer so I have done my fair share of that, too. I've taught college courses, tutored, done a number of things to hustle, make more money...more...more...more....

And then came a day when I was forced to slow down. I took a leave from work to care for a loved one. It was the first time in years that I had slowed enough to watch the winter turn into a most incredible spring. Spring came and stayed that year, as I recall. I watched it arrive from the window of my childhood home. My immediate circumstances were heartbreaking but the real gift was time. For the first time in forever, I had time to think about how I lived, what I deemed important, and most importantly, who was surrounding me. I had to acknowledge that I was, indeed, turning into the most awful version of a striver; I seldom was satisfied with what I had presently. I had to shift my mindset. And that period of stillness brought me such clarity. I stopped thinking about acquisition of more and I began to shift into, "I have enough. I've been given so many incredible gifts and I scarcely stop long enough to grateful for them. I have enough. I AM enough."

This didn't just include acquiring things. I also took stock of the people who had surrounded me and I really had to be critical. I didn't appreciate my truest friends. I took them for granted and chased after other people whom I knew weren't good to me nor for me. In that brief time of stillness, I decided not to do that anymore. And it was the best decision I've ever made.

So I challenge you today: take stock of your own life. Who surrounds you? What do you prioritize? Are these people and things worth chasing? Are you running after more and not paying attention to enough? I can save you the suspense. Enough IS enough. It is.

I've given you a lot to think about for this one. I know that it's caused me to revisit my priorities in my own life once more. I'm really working on my true friendships and in the first blush of 2024, I'm realigning once more to make them a priority. I'm reminding myself that I don't have to run after the things that aren't serving me. I hope you'll do the same.

Enough is enough. You really are enough. It's that simple.