In last week’s blog, I shared Mom’s profound wisdom, “Well, I certainly don’t want anything that I have to dust!” to share the danger of chasing success and possessions versus living life to its fullest. The best things in life aren’t things at all. Today, I want to expound on the power of contentment that energizes life rather than making it more hectic.
There’s something profoundly liberating about reaching the point where you can say, “I have enough.” It’s not about living in poverty or depriving yourself — it’s about recognizing that contentment doesn’t come from your next purchase.
When we’re constantly acquiring, we’re constantly wanting. When we’re constantly wanting, we’re never fully present in the moment. Mom’s wisdom reminds us that sometimes the best gift is the absence of another thing that needs our attention.
Redefining Success
Maybe it’s time to redefine what success looks like. Instead of measuring success by what we own, what if we measured it by:
- The quality of our relationships
- The focus on our life’s purpose
- The peace we feel in our homes
- The time we have for what matters most
- The freedom to be spontaneous
- The space to breathe and think
- The time to re-energize
These metrics don’t require dusting. They require presence, intention, and the wisdom to know when we have enough.
Learning from Life’s Teachers
Mom and Pop Joe have taught me so much about living well. Their home isn’t filled with the latest gadgets or trending décor. Instead, it’s filled with photos of family, comfortable furniture that’s been loved for years, and the kind of peace that comes from knowing what truly matters.
They’ve learned what many of us are still discovering: that the good life isn’t about having more things — it’s about having more time, more peace, and more joy in the simple moments.
Creating Space for What Matters
When we stop filling our lives with things that need dusting, we create space for what actually matters. We have more time for conversations like the one I had with Mom and Pop Joe. We have more energy for relationships, creativity, and the pursuits that bring genuine fulfillment.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to buy something — it’s whether we can afford the time, energy, and mental space it will require. Every possession is a commitment, and we only have so much capacity for commitments.
Choosing Joy Over Accumulation
As I reflect on Mom’s simple statement about dusting, I realize she’s chosen joy over accumulation, significance over success. She’s decided that her time and energy are too precious to spend on things that don’t add real value to her life. The best gifts aren’t the ones we can unwrap — they’re the ones we can experience.
This is a choice we can all make. We can choose to stop chasing the next thing and start appreciating what we already have. We can choose to measure our lives not by what we own, but by how we live.
The Wisdom of 87 Years
At 87, Mom has learned what many of us are still figuring out: that less really can be more. That freedom comes not from having everything we want, but from wanting what we have. That the good life isn’t about accumulating possessions — it’s about accumulating moments, memories, and meaningful connections.
Her simple statement about not wanting anything that needs dusting contains a lifetime of wisdom. It’s a reminder that we are better served when we think about the dusting before we do the acquiring.
“If you were to anticipate how strong a company’s culture needs to be to transform and thrive in the future, Joey Havens paints a beautiful horizon in his book Leading with Significance.” Daniel Burrus
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