Image source: Nano Banana (AI)
Preamble
After writing this article I went for a walk. I thought about how people's desire for something new and a bit better pushed so many people to replace perfectly good cellphones to get something newer and a little better.
I thought about Hollywood actors who were already beautiful who got surgery done to be a little better looking, or to change their looks so they could land a few more movies.
I thought about the quest to be the best because in this world lots of people remember the winner but few remember the runner up.
I was going to do a rewrite...but then thought... The article is good enough and I don't really need to do... just a bit more
So here is the article which I think is... good enough.
I live in a country that is arguably well off. Oh, it certainly has its problems and I could sit for hours and say what is wrong with it to be sure. However, I've been in countries which are much poorer economically and learned something important. Money does not mean wealthy.
When I went to the Philippines for my first time decades ago I marveled at how well they lived on a very small amount of money. They certainly didn't have as much money or as many things as I did...but they had things I couldn't easily replace. A sense of belonging, a sense of family, a sense of community, and time to enjoy it.
That has stuck with me for years.
Now as I come to retirement I see it even more.
The most common answer is "..just a little bit more". Or perhaps the answer is "..a lot more". The answer of "Enough" is much less common.
I'll admit when I look at how much I have saved for my retirement I often think "Is it enough?". Or I ask myself "What if it isn't enough?". Or "What if I run out?". Those questions lead me to the thought of "Maybe I should work just a little bit longer?". Or "Maybe I should save just a little bit more?". It is a very easy trap to get into.
Indeed, many wealthy people fall into that very trap. A millionaire who just needs another million or two. A billionaire who just needs a few more billion to go up another notch on the wealthiest people in the world. An entrepreneur who just needs a few more stores to feel successful.
Of course sometimes it isn't even about money. My son's keep saying they "...Just want to hit a little bit higher weight at the gym". I hear people say "...I just want to lose a little more weight".
Sometimes it is much smarter to know when you have found enough.
There are many people who are smarter than I am. There are many people who are wealthier than I am. Many people have better vehicles than I do. Many take fancier holidays. Honestly, if I compare myself to other people it is very easy to get discouraged. But there is a funny thing I learned a long time ago.
To feel skinny, hang around with fat peopleNow I don't say that to be mean and I'm not condoning unhealthy weight for anyone. The fact remains though: Anyone who compares themselves to fitness models is going to be unhappy--even other models. The opposite is also true. If you hang around with people who don't have what you do it helps you appreciate what you have.
By Canadian standards I'm not rich but when I was in Indonesia where people make considerably less money? I learned that I am much better off then many people. It is a very useful tool for putting things in perspective. It also makes complacency much harder.
Some people strive for more than they need. Some people settle for an easy life without ambition. Neither one is healthy.
How do I explain that?
Well, there have been studies showing income and happiness. One study showed that happiness increased with money but only up to a point. Another study showed that for some people more money meant more happiness. One more recent study showed that many moderately happy or unhappy people had their happiness increase as money went up but again, only to a point.
For me the point is that having too little is a bad place to be. Working too hard for too much puts you in a place where you get diminishing returns. Finding the place where you have enough is the sweet spot. To me, complacency is when you settle for less than your enough.
If you settle for a restrictive lifestyle because you don't want to work? Complacency.
If you settle for an unhealthy body because you don't want to exercise? Complacency.
If you settle for a mediocre relationship with your kids or spouse because its too much work to make it better? Complacency.
In a good world people would put in the effort and have the opportunities to get into the area where they are their best self. The area where they have maximum happiness before running into diminishing returns.
In a perfect world people would strive to reach their happy place and then? Keep on working so that others could reach their happy place also. Personally I'm still working on different parts of my life--mostly my health--but other areas as well. But seeing other people who have less than I do? It makes me want to work harder and find ways where I can help others. Complacency would be happy sitting on my couch and saying "Good Enough'. Greed would be "I can use just a little bit more just in case". The best at least in my opinion? Saying "I have enough...but others don't so lets see what needs to be done to help out".
If everyone did that? I think that would be as close to Utopia as we are ever going to get.
Just my quick thoughts on the current Hive Learners post. Feel free to leave comments if you like. Otherwise? Thank you for reading this far. Always appreciate eyes on my posts. Thank you.