Having Enough

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200 words, debt, desires, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, enough, Fear, greed, human behaviour, humanity, joy, life, living within my means, love, needs, sacrifice, survive, wanting

There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.

G.K. Chesterton

Have you ever thought about what drives us to have more? Why we need a more expensive, newer car, the latest gadget, a bigger house, more money? Does what we have not work? Does our survival depend on it? Or is it simply a matter of social status? Why is it so pressing that we keep up with the Joneses?

We humans are wired to survive. We need shelter. We need food. We need security from those who might harm us. And once we have those bases covered, we need to belong. We need to be needed and we need to know that we can count on others when we need them.

But when do our needs become frivolous? What marks the event when we’ve gone too far? When we must ‘have it’ just for the sake of ‘having it’? When we decide to live outside of our means and willingly fall into debt? When do we cross that line of pure greed that sacrifices our fellow (wo)man’s ability to survive?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

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When is Enough, Enough?

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200 words, abundance, contentment, desires, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, enough, greed, joy, Necessities of Life

“Enough is abundance to the wise.” – Euripides

Photo credit: nbmaa.wordpress.com

Have you ever thought to yourself, “If only I could get _____________, that would be enough.”  

Have you ever then attained that which you desired?

Was it enough?

Or having grown accustomed to this new level of possession, have you wanted more?

Do you think if you get more, it will be enough? Or will you want even more?

~

When I got my first apartment, my parents allowed me to take my bedroom furniture. I leaned a mattress against the living room wall and threw myself into it when I needed a couch. I built a bookshelf with bricks and planks of wood. My end table was a plastic crate. I never expected to have what my parents had at the time, what they’d worked hard to have. I knew I’d have to work for that. I was so happy in my little apartment. Life is so good when you have enough.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Do you define abundance by the measure of your possessions?

Or do you define abundance by the measure of your satisfaction with the wealth you already have?