"It's not having what you want. It's wanting what you've got."
On any sunny given day, you're likely to find me singing along to Sheryl Crow's "Soak Up the Sun," and along with its cheerful riff positively encouraging me, she also poignantly reminds me of a fundamental lesson we all in this beauty and wealth fetishizing society need to learn-
"It's not having what you want. It's wanting what you've got."
We spend our days jogging like Iditarod dogs on a hedonic treadmill. Searching - always seeking to fill that void inside us that says I am not worthy enough. We look at Instagram, wasting and obsessing for hours over what others advertise as their lives. We walk by beautiful houses we cannot afford, by beautiful people, we don't think we compare to. We fill our lives with things - to seek status but, let's face it, to seek acceptance. But it's never enough, and even when we reach the next rung, we are fully satisfied to forget quickly what we've gained and already have our sights set on the next rung. Don't get me wrong, I am all for achieving -- I am your classic overachiever. But I've learned the happiness and freedom that comes from getting off that treadmill over the years.
As an interior designer, my job is to create envy-worthy spaces. In some ways, my entire field is centered on consumerism.
"You're just one item away from having your ideal vision of yourself!". "Just buy it." "I love it."
Do these thoughts sound familiar? Capitalism prays on you having these thoughts. Interior design consumerism is just as insidious. And as an interior designer, I want to help break the cycle - I want to rebel and show you how we can have beautiful functioning spaces without feeling the need to overly consuming to fill the void or scratch that itch -- pick your analogy.
But fundamentally what we need to understand is things will never fill the void.
No item you could ever purchase will ever make you complete. A magazine-worthy picture of your home might bring you pride, but it won't give you inner peace. And because nothing is ever stagnant, nothing will ever last. Embracing what is - is our only path to peace.
We need to embrace the void.
We need to learn to be present and grateful.
We need to make our lives beautiful by embracing good regimens and good housekeeping.
What we need is to learn to want what we've got.
This is my quest in my own life, and this is my mission to share with the world.
There are many reasons - political, spiritual, practical for choosing to
embrace ENOUGHism - but above all, there is one big reason: freedom.
As the Eagles sang, "so often times it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we hold the key."
I am freer than I've ever been. And I want you to be free too. • S
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