Grateful for ENOUGH
Celebrating ENOUGH – The Healthy Enough
Twelve years agoI was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. It was a rough time, but I am fine, so far. For that I thank God. It was a time to recover and think about my life. I am also thankful for that little wake up call reminding me what’s important in life.
Six years agoI had a motorcycle accident in Thailand and then was dealing with frozen shoulder and a bone that wouldn’t mend in my upper left arm for about 18 months. It hurt. A lot. Although it sounds rather out-of-character for me to have been on a motorcycle in Thailand, one needs to know that motorcycles are the way most people travel where we were. And until that moment, riding the cycle had been pretty fun. I have even gotten back on a motorcycle since then- again in N. Thailand, and seated behind a trusted friend.
Every yearmy allergy season/cold season seems to drag on from January to June. once I even had pneumonia. My friend Jim tells me that having pneumonia is what it feels like to have COPD. Well, I am thankful that I don’t have that! Today I got my second annual flu shot- I hope it works as well as last year did!
Aside from being pretty much written off from work during the chemo and being off work right after my motorcycle accident, I have been working even in the midst of being not so well. I have been well enough. Despite the multitude of doctor visits, which still continue to this day, I am able to participate and enjoy my daily life. I am thankful for that.
My neighbor says that health is the most important thing, but I would disagree. It is great thing, and good enough health allows me to be a part of my family, social environs, and work just fine. Yet, I have a few friends who are quite a bit more (seriously) ill than I at the moment and they know what is most important: family, friends, and being grateful in the moment for the moment.
The wealthy Enough
I have a soon-to-be retired financial planner friend who always counsels people not to spend money on things they can’t afford to impress people they don’t like. How much stuff is enough? Do I really need that 8thpair of work trousers? What about that new work shirt in blue? I have three other blue shirts. I remember being told in college that one is rich when one can decide on which clothes to wear that day. I don’t know about you, but I am exceedingly rich by that definition, maybe not by “society’s” definition. But I certainly have way enough;, and I eat well enough, too.
The well done enough
Every week I look at my long to do list and prioritize, depending on due dates, on energy levels, on meetings and teaching days, and on what I would prefer to do. Every week that to do list gets partially done, but not fully. When is it good enough?
When do I have to stop and literally, or figuratively, smell those roses? Most of us, especially those of us who are self-starters and entrepreneurs, have an incredibly high standard set for ourselves. We need to know when it is good enough,when we can stop and celebrate the things we have done.
I live in a culture that idolizes perfectionism. Perhaps you do, too. A whole ago I had to wait at the doctor’s office for about ten minutes. Not so long. But she excused herself at the end of the visit.
I said that it was no problem and she responded, “after all we are all only human”. That is more than good enough! Let us celebrate our humanity this weekend by giving ourselves a break! Have a wonderful time being human!
Take good care of yourselves, enjoy the nice weather (at least in Switzerland, I will say, while it lasts), and be grateful for all those good enough things- that are really good, and enough!
Patricia Jehle
website:www.jehle-coaching.com
