Chapter 8: The Value of Enough

“We’ve adopted society’s values as our own, often without even realizing it. Our daily choices reflect this—we prioritize money and work over our bodies, our families, and everything else. Society teaches us to ignore our physical well-being, but in truth, we should focus on how we spend our time and care for our bodies. These choices reveal what we truly value.”

“The problem is you’re separating these things too naively,” he responded. “Sadly, in our society, money gives you the freedom to choose what you do with your time and body. It’s unfair, but it’s the reality. So, we’re forced to prioritize money first until we have the luxury to choose how we take care of the rest.”

“I agree,” she said thoughtfully, “because money still feels like a hindrance to me, something that stands in the way of what I actually want to do. It’s something I have to manage just to get to what I love, and what I love doesn’t bring in any money yet because we live in a society that only values what sells. The problem is when money becomes the sole goal. At some point, you might lose yourself on that slippery slope and forget why you were chasing it in the first place.”

She paused, then continued “We really need to fight the idea that everything in our lives needs to become a source of money. And we need to find the right balance, where the pursuit of money doesn’t become our only joy in life. Certain things can be achieved with more or less money; we have to realize that beyond a certain point, money doesn’t make much difference. Yes, a bigger house may be more comfortable, but a smaller one still fulfills the original purpose of having a roof over your head. When did homes become something else? And a garden is a garden, whether it’s a messy patch of green or the manicured lawns of a king. The original purpose was to enjoy nature, and that can be done whether you’re looking at a field of dandelions or a perfectly trimmed hedge.”

She looked at him, searching his face for agreement. “What do you think the rich can afford that you can’t at a smaller scale? True wealth comes when you can stop worrying about food on your plate, a place to stay, and start enjoying life for what it is. When you can simply be. That’s what our societies should strive for—ensuring all citizens have access to the basic things in life.”

“How is it any different if I swim in a public lake or a private, luxurious swimming pool? Isn’t the purpose to swim, to cool down on hot days? How is it any different if I travel the world by jet plane or explore my surroundings in a van? Isn’t the same desire to see new sights fulfilled? For what it’s worth, it’s usually those which have less who still find pleasure in swimming and discovering new places.”

She smiled softly, feeling the unbearable lightness of being. “Let’s stop glamorizing the rich life, and start enjoying minimalism.”

They both fell silent, lost in thought, becoming more aware of the tension in their bodies—their shadows and contours, their pleasure and pain, the pulsing energy and waves of air that kept them alive moment by moment.