by Alyn

Created on: November 19, 2009

This is my take on having enough. Actually, writing an article of over 400 words on the subject of enough is more than enough words. So, by using more words than necessary, I am actually showing in a contrary way how too many words can degrade the true meaning of enough. But, I will see if I can make those 400 words count. My dictionary states that enough means "as much or as many as necessary, desirable, or tolerable; sufficient". I believe that our society today has jumped on the band wagon of more, more, more so often that we no longer even understand the concept of enough. It used to be that we had more of a sense of balance in everything we did, ate, talked about, or even dreamed about. There was a tendency for the farmer to quit the day's work before the sun went down. Our teachers taught the basics and allowed our parents to expand into areas beyond those basics. Our parents and mentors strove to balance love with discipline. Those basics were considered common sense back then.Things were certainly not perfect, but there was a sense of balance or enough that we need to return to today.

What are some examples of enough, and why should we strive for enough instead of more or less than enough? A great example can be given in the type of music we listen to and perform today. Much of our music is what I call higher, louder, and faster. In heavy rock and metal music, one can not understand the words and has to wear hearing protectors.This approach is even occurring in church music. Instead of a piano providing a beautiful accompaniment to the soloist or ensemble, there is often a drum set and amplified guitars; producing more noise than music.

We often eat too much. We work too hard and long. Or, we drink too much. Often, we also think too little of ourselves. Less than enough can be just as unproductive as more than enough.

So, how do we regain that sense of enough and apply it to our lives? I believe the answer lies in stopping every once in awhile and asking, "Is my life right now o.k.? Can I be happy with my circumstances just as they are?" If one cannot be happy with the present, he will probably be unable to enjoy the future. True balance and a sense of enough, produces the serenity and confidence to make the best of life on a day by day basis.

441 words! That's enough, and enough is enough.

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