The power of enough

I've been pondering the thought of enough for quite some time now.

Once I climbed over those magic $75K/year —which seems to work out at €75K in the EU — I started thinking what my next financial goals should be —and why. You see, it's easy to define a number and pursue it, but the real question is WHY. Why do I need to save $100K, or why to I need to build a $1M portfolio. Especially in the EU, where we're blessed with decent government pensions, we're not saving for survival, but extra comfort.

You can chase the material goals, but they'll never end. BMW turns into a Tesla, which turns into a Porsche, then you can go for a Ferrari, and then you'll maybe want a boat, a helicopter, private jet, and space ship ... It never ends. But none of those make you happy.

I was fortunate enough to realize that before losing my health or family — like many high-rolling Porsche owners have done. So I said enough. My kids don't care what I drive if I don't get to spend time with them. A (younger) girlfriend might care, but I decided than my wife is more than enough as she comes with my kids and a learned tolerance for my quirks.

I've found my material enough, and I think I've found my athletic enough. —I'm in that middle-aged man category when we try to cure our insecurities through sports, pursuing marathons, triathlons, ultras, and whatnot. I've found my enough in the marathon.

I'm on the verge of discovering my spiritual enough, and maybe my career enough.

I'm trying to discover enough in each important part of my life because it makes me feel the joy of the present moment. I enjoy my current possessions as blessings. I enjoy my current fitness levels as I feel great in my body. And for the career — I'm feeling great in my current role, with no need to pursue the next level of becoming a VP. I've seen the trade-offs, and I'm not willing to make those sacrifices.

I'm trying to teach my kids to find their own enoughs. But it's tough; they don't comprehend the concept yet, because they're young, nothing to pursue or struggle with, they're living their best lives. But one day they'll enter the workforce, the rat race, the whatever-you-wanna-call-it, and I want them to know. You don't need to pursue unlimited growth forever. Grow to your enough, and you'll spend most of your life living in joy. And that's what it's all about — enjoying every. Single. Moment.