Thursday Thought: The Gift of "Enough"
I saw this picture on Loribeth Pierson's final post of her excellent series called 12 Days of LinkedIn Tips -- and I was struck by how it so closely mirrors how I grew up and how I live now.
I am among the luckiest of people, having been born to a mother who might have gotten together for a one-night stand or might have actually cared about the man who helped create me. Because I was adopted at the ripe old age of three days, and I never knew my biological parents, I don't know the circumstances. But I do know I got a life to live and great genetics. And even better, I was adopted by two really nice people, both of whom adored me (and my younger brother, their only biological child).
But the best part of this was my dad's attitude, which I now label "We have enough of what we need." It surrounded me all through my childhood, even though I don't think he ever actually uttered those words. But he showed us by example how much he loved living the life we all shared, how deeply content he was with what we had.
My family really did have enough. Not too much. Not too little. But enough. We had each other. We lived in a nice enough town. We had our own home. We had heat in the winter and fans for cooling in the summer.
We had a small garden in the back -- my dad's -- and we had a small screened-in porch that he helped build. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty with honest labor, even though he had a college degree.
We had enough food, enough to wear, and enough money to pay for heat and necessities like that. As far as I know, we were happy. I know absolutely that HE was happy. He showed in every day in myriad ways.
Do you know what an incredible gift it is to have that knowledge, that attitude, that certainty? Do you know how grateful I am to know that I have everything I need and most of what I could ever want?
It really hits home at this time of year, when all the messages we hear and see are
BUY! BUY! BUY MORE! BUY MORE AND MORE! BUY BIGGER AND BIGGER!!!!!
After living in a larger home (with a husband and two kids) I now live in a 525 s.f. cottage -- by choice -- which is on a small bay in Massachusetts. It was cheap to buy, not so cheap to renovate, and it gives me great joy. It's about the size of a two-car garage (22'x24'); the entire house might fit into someone's master bedroom here in America. But with high ceilings and loads of windows, it feels huge!
I look out the windows of the sun porch, and I see the bay. It changes constantly, and that brings me joy. The sunsets are glorious! And yes, that's a real sunset here, and I took the picture standing on the beach four houses down the street from mine.I've never needed to shop for things to validate my life and self-worth. Yes, I like nice things. Who doesn't? But I don't need dozens of the same item to make me happy (except socks -- don't ask) -- I'm a retailer's worst nightmare.
I mean, really: How many sweatshirts / shirts / jackets / pairs of shoes does one human NEED? The answer will be different for everyone, but for me, the number is very low. Except for those socks.
I am surrounded here by love, by comfort, by memories. The items that made the journey to this small cottage have real meaning for me. They give me comfort; they are what I value. Some things are from my childhood home; others are more recently purchased. But each is visible and has a story. They are enough. Actually, they're more than enough.
I will be forever grateful to my dad who showed me so clearly that being able to find joy in what you have and knowing that you have enough are the most wonderful gifts of all.
I wish for you -- my readers, my connections, my friends -- the same gift all year round.
I value your thoughts on this and any of my posts.
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Comments
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #15
Now that is so nice of you, @Ginger Christmas! Many thanks for the kind words!
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #14
Thanks for that, Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman! I hope you have a wonderful holiday week with your loved ones.
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #13
CityVP Manjit, you can make up any word you wnat! Thanks for joining the conversation, and I hope to see you here again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #12
Thanks, Lisa \ud83d\udc1d Gallagher! It was one of the many magnificent sunsets on Buttermilk Bay, which I can see right from my sun porch windows. I got lucky that the picture actually came out that well; all I have is my iPhone 5. Sunsets like that are one of many wonderful features I have found living here in this small village. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Lisa Gallagher
7 years ago #11
CityVP Manjit
7 years ago #10
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #9
I am so glad you liked my sunset picture, @Andrew Goldman! We get amazing ones here in Buzzards Bay (on Buttermilk Bay), and sometimes I'm saddened by the fact that I'm the only one down the beach looking, soaking it in, and trying desperately to capture it in a picture. That one was one in a thousand, but I sure do enjoy the ones I see! And my dad? About the nicest and happiest man ever. Thank you from my heart for your comment on him.
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #8
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #7
OK, I getting that (I think). I guess my next step is to find / use / figure out how to use Paul's app . . . and then to see what happens in the next three weeks. And then to learn more about your TweetPack next year. Hanging in! Thanks, Deb \ud83d\udc1d Helfrich!
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #6
OK, Deb \ud83d\udc1d Helfrich, I get the making a meme thing out of the sunset. That's a great idea. And I nearly died when I realized the picture came out really well; using an iPhone doesn't mean using a quality camera! I am kind of at sea on the Twitter thing. I know nothing about a "gift" from our buddy Paul \, and remember you're dealing with the spunky old broad who is hanging on by her fingernails. As much as I do right, I totally miss a bunch of other things. And even when some kind-hearted folks try to explain, I go stupid and dumb. I do see that you're tweeting my post a bunch of times (four times a day for three weeks?That's what -- 30x3=90 or just under), but I'm not sure I quite get what else might be going on. Regardless, THANK YOU for doing that! I do Tweet my posts, and I'm getting far better at checking Twitter every day to thank those who have retweeted something of mine and to see who else is writing what. There are just so many places to check!
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #5
Thank you for that, Graham\ud83d\udc1d Edwards! I hope your holiday is wonderful, filled with light and love.
Graham🐝 Edwards
7 years ago #4
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #3
Thanks, @John Rylance! Your mom (mum?) sounds like my dad did. It's a wonderful way to live, enjoying what we have.
John Rylance
7 years ago #2
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #1
Thank you so much, @Savvy Raj, for those thoughts. Yes, I am one lucky woman, having gotten a great start and living with that wonderful man who taught me so much through his actions. There has never been anyone as happy as he was with what we had. I am truly glad the words resonate with you; you are clearly a lucky young woman!