“Good Enough”
Living gratefully today, I give thanks for laughter and conversation over a family meal together, and for the idea of everyday awe in our lives. Taking a moment to listen to my sister Mary Jo’s wind chimes, and watch the trees I see from my current seat sway in the brisk breeze, combine to bring me a sense of “smaller self” and humble grace.
I am appreciating the idea of “good enough” more and more in my life as well. Here is a post from my “Habitual Gratitude” blog about this topic, written in August 2019. And here is a portion of what I wrote:
"This is not slacking, it is sanity." Decades of overdoing and making sure things are better than "good enough" and fighting my inner critic about how I am "not good enough" won't be tossed out just like that.
It will take devoted time, concerted effort. We are making progress though. Freedom grows in tiny increments, and sometimes in "ah-ha!" moments.
One of the beautiful things about "good enough" is the energy it conserves. Energy I have available for who and what matter most. Shouldn't they be getting my best, instead of something that really doesn't matter nearly as much?
Nearly three years later, I am even more a fan of this idea of “good enough.” As I find more ways and places to apply it, I have more freedom, acceptance, and that energy I reference above. My energy has been in a state of flux for the last two years. First, because of the pandemic. Then, in more recent months because of the hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy that I had last August.
My energy level is balancing out, and though age is a contributor as well, the amount of energy and motivation I have had in recent weeks is the best it has been in a long time. I am so grateful for that. Not surprisingly, as I embrace my “smaller self” I have a healthier and clearer mindset, more acceptance and patience. With that, ideas and creativity continue to flow and the end product, whatever it is, is probably better than it would have been prior to embracing “good enough.” One of life’s ironies. It brings a smile and also brought this poem:
