More Than Enough

I was feeling anything but content. It was my anniversary weekend and we were still recovering from a lightning storm that destroyed half of our major electrical appliances, as a new storm, “Hurricane Matthew,” was moving up the coast. My husband and I traditionally go away for our anniversary weekend on a trip to the mountains or the coast (the same coast Hurricane Matthew was barreling toward), but this year it seemed best to break tradition. I was disappointed … and even a little grumpy. I resented everything that was happening and keeping us from our trip. I wanted our special weekend together.

One of my close friends also celebrates her anniversary in October—and she had arranged to get away. Her trip was arranged for a different weekend, one that I imagined would have perfect weather. I am sure you can already see where I am going with this (or I really hope you can, because it’s difficult to admit): part of my discontentment was coming from focusing on her trip.

I was envious.

As our anniversary weekend progressed, my husband decided we should try to get away just for a day, despite the weather. But at 4 a.m. on the scheduled “get away day,” my daughter entered our room sick. We knew we couldn’t leave her. As the day wore on, so did my envy.

Envy comes from desiring something someone else has. You may even resent that person for having it because you feel you deserve it, too. Envy uses that desire against you, creating a feeling of lack, a feeling of what I have is not enough. Envy always craves more.

That is where I drew the line.

I was allowing envy to dominate my thoughts and warp my perspective.

I was focusing on a trip someone else was going to take as if that trip, or any trip, was the path to happiness when happiness was all around me.

I do not need more. I can look around me and count more blessings than any one woman could deserve. I am not lacking for shelter, food, love, or even laughter. I am surrounded by more than enough.

Happiness is an emotion, just like envy. And we get to choose which emotions we will let dominate our thoughts. If we choose happiness, then we choose contentment with the things we already have to be grateful for.

We really don’t need a lot to bring a smile to our faces. I remember when my children were younger, it always seemed they could spend hours entertained by a cardboard box or a drawer of kitchen spatulas and spoons. A new, pricey toy never seemed to bring the same lasting joy as the box and utensils they returned to again and again. Thinking about this reminds me to find the lasting joy in the life I have, not the life that always seeks more.

My anniversary weekends away have always been a time to see new sights, relax, and reconnect with the man I love. I am sure we will have the opportunity to experience an anniversary weekend together again. But for now, I am satisfied knowing that I have 365 other days to celebrate with him in the home we return to again and again.

And the next time envy makes an appearance inside of me, I am going to stop and take a moment to list the many blessings already surrounding me because I truly already have more than enough.

Join me in finding joy today. Think of something you take for granted that is a blessing in your life and take a few moments to focus on the happiness it brings you, then please share it with me here on the blog or in a comment on Facebook.