Why isn’t one enough?

Thoughts on being content with not less, but with enough.

Colorado, 2019, I fell in love here

People imply, more like insist, that I should be desiring to have more in this life. I’ve grown weary from these conversations. I guess that’s to be expected given the capitalist society we live in, full to the brim with technological and systemic advancement. Yet, I am taken back by the immortal, relentless nature of “more.”

I was savoring some time alone on the back stoop one sunrise. The kind of meditation that’s just breathing and being in the moment. Watching the sun evaporate the morning dew off overgrown grass. Allowing any thoughts to arise and following them curiously like birds flying between the evergreens. The thought of expanding my family came to mind.

I’m always being asked if I’ll have more than one child. Always. I have to politely yet firmly assert that we are happy with one. That doesn’t stop the questioning and commenting. So I thought to myself, how else can I get someone to unlearn that more is better by default?

I think a good use of my energy and time is just to get them to work through it themselves. By posing the question “why isn’t one enough?” They are forced to think of a new way of approaching satisfaction and wonder where the narrative actually comes from. It’s better to cultivate a conversation that can be transformative than to volleyball personal opinions just to win the game.

I’ve never been one to desire excess. Long before minimalism became a trend, I wanted just enough belongings. I’ve always been aware of my capacity. What I’m willing to be responsible for, can nurture and sustain. More dishes means more to wash and store. More clothes means more to fold and choose from. More requires more and I simply don’t have more of me to give.

I just don’t want a lot. Sue me.

Even when it comes to my bakery, people think I want to do a lot more with it. To be honest, I just want it to grow slowly and steadily. I want to stay in love with food and life. If I jumped into more production and marketing, I’d kill my dream when it was just a two-leafed sprout. I don’t need more of anything if I can’t handle it. This is a legacy I’m building here, not a phase that I mention every blue moon. I’m striving for high quality over quantity always.

I love having one of anything. If I can only have and handle one, I want it to be something I can really love on for as long as possible. One God. One life. One lover. One child. One home. One mushroom blanket. One pair of cowgirl boots. One record player. So forth and so on.

I still have an abundance yes but I’m not overwhelmed by any excess. This is what works best for me and is aligned with my personal philosophy. I encourage you to look at what your life consists of and ask yourself if you’ve fallen victim to the idea that having more was better than having enough. Then ask yourself what you have too little of and how you can have enough of that too.

Orchestrating a harmonious life requires awareness, love, access to resources and willingness to be in relationship with others and nature.

Can you do that?

I’m trying my best to do it too.

Let’s do it together :)

With cheek kisses, contentment and a cup of instant coffee,

Carri

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If you want to try any of my baked goods, submit an order form and I’ll get it to you :)

www.withcarrington.com/chanterelle-cafe