Enough
It took me 82 years to move from "Enough!" to "Enough."
“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” — Laozi
Sometimes “enough” is the end of something.
Sometimes it’s the beginning.
And sometimes, it’s a place where you get stuck.
Enough!
The kind that says, “No more.”
For me, I recognized it when I felt used, cheated on, or undervalued. My body knew. It showed up as heartbreak, a tightening in my stomach, or tension in my shoulders.
Once, in a management meeting where I was the only woman, the men tried to outdo each other. They became competitive and loud. I hated it. Then I heard a voice in my head whisper, “Run.”
Chills.
That was when I knew it was time to give up the 70-hour weeks as a consultant.
Sometimes, Enough! means walking away, cutting ties, or taking risks. Other times, it means asking for more respect, more trust, or simply being valued.
So let me ask you this:
What are you still tolerating that you shouldn’t be? Too much? Too Little?
Enough?
The kind that circles.
More money. More security. More time. More me.
After “Run,” I knew I would be giving up a six-figure income. Gulp. Downsizing was inevitable. But I also realized that getting more of what I had would not make me happier.
What I truly wanted was more time for myself and more balance in my life. That mattered more than everything else.
This is the hardest place to be.
You can stay here for years, living a life that no longer fits. It’s often easier to tolerate what isn’t working than to step into the unknown of “What’s next?”
I made spreadsheets. Lots of them. Would my savings be enough until Social Security kicked in 11 years later? It certainly would not be in California.
My best friend said, “Blue, you can downsize and stay here.” At 51, with all my friends still working, I asked Nancy, “And what would I do? Play bingo at the senior center?”
In hindsight, I should have hired an accountant. My investments were making 10% in 1998. That didn’t last long. My research said I could live in Mexico for $1,000 a month. That didn’t last long either.
My friends and family thought I was crazy to give up a great job and move to Mexico. Maybe it was crazy. But it wasn’t the first crazy decision I’d made.
That’s what decades of living teach you. You start trusting yourself. And for me, Ajijic, Mexico was the solution. Beautiful weather, a lower cost of living, a culture whose values align with mine, and above all, a community of expats who became my new family.
Thirty years later, I haven’t once regretted this move.
Here’s a question to ask yourself:
Do you already have enough of what matters most to you—time, love, respect, trust, success, money? If you had more, would you feel more fulfilled? If so, I say, make the changes in your life that will increase your happiness.
This is not a time for procrastination.
Enough.
Acceptance. An internal knowing that your life has settled into where it belongs.
This happens when something inside you stops reaching for more. This is where life feels full, even if it looks smaller from the outside.
That is where I am now, at 82.
I gave up 15 years of earning potential. And I still have enough.
Enough comfort. Enough contentment and enough curiosity to keep me learning and trying new things.
When I started Substack one year ago, I promised that my posts would always be free. I had one goal. I wanted each article to reach at least one person at the right time in their life to make a positive difference.
How do I know it’s working?
Because you tell me. Every day after my morning walk, I grab my coffee and turn on the computer. My days start with a big smile because of your inspirational comments.
I know for certain that I get more from this wonderful Substack community than I give. Or, maybe we can just call it a win-win.
What about you?
Whose yardstick are you measuring your “enough” against? Make sure the criteria are your own.
Have a great day!
Blue💙
For small pearls of wisdom and perhaps a chuckle, visit: Blue’s Notes
Now I’m 85. At the age of 55 I took a leap. People thought I had lost it. I took a course in Dog Grooming.. loved working with the animals. I am a Registered Nurse. Most times when I left work I felt ‘ANGRY’. I was not doing a good job caring for my patients. Not enough staff, administration totally blind…Fast forward two years I started my own business and never looked back with regret
Just what I needed to hear today, Blue!