Feb 25, 2010
Posted by jeremyscheller in rants | 7 Comments
The Paradox of More.
More sounds better.
More resources.
More stuff.
More beautiful.
More productive.
More is the standard I have set for myself.
More outputs.
More accomplishments.
More pats on the back.
More results.
More is what I want and more is what I’m getting. In order to get more, I’m putting in
More time.
More stress.
More money.
More of my life.
In order to get more, my family is getting
Less daddy.
Less husband.
Less patience.
Less love.
I’m ready for
Less perfect.
Less outputs.
Less pride.
Less friction.
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I love this post…and can completely relate to it!
Good thoughts. I’ve been noticing that as well as we have friends who feel the need for a bigger home for more space for their stuff and more room for their family, but it also means they’re working more to make more money so they have less time in their home with their family.
I don’t think less outputs and less perfect needs to necessarily mean less pride. Becoming a better husband and father, as well as becoming a healthier person, is something to be proud of.
I can relate. A mentor used to suggest the following exercise to me:
Get as quiet and still as you can for a while. Imagine today is the last day of your life…you’re on your deathbed. But you get this day to reflect on the life you’ve lived. What are you going to regret? What are the things you wish you would have done or left undone, said of left unsaid?
The idea is that the answers you come up with are the things you should make a priority in your REAL life today…because you really don’t know if today might actually be your last day.
Some folks consider this a morbid exercise. I find it invigorating and clarifying every time I take the time and effort to do it.
Grace and Peace,
Mark
Jeremy,
Well said. That’s all I will say for now.
appreciate this…something Ariah and I adhere to is to work as little as possible, live with less, live in less extravagant ways…
We’d love to chat with you guys anytime if you’d like a sounding board or anyone to conspire with…
Mindy-
I totally hear that. It’s similar for us. We don’t have stuff. We don’t buy stuff. And I don’t really work more to get more stuff. I work more because I love my job and want to continue to influence people to take steps in their faith using my own creative skills.
So, I’m mostly referring to my job here. The mindset that I always have to keep doing more to influence more.
We’re not really “stuff” people. Though I would love to have more gadgets, I can never rectify the money it would cost to buy them:) But I do accept gifts of anything with an Apple logo on it.
well said. I’ve still got a long way to go.