Church Chat: Why More Isn't Better (part II)

You might want to hurry and read Part I first? !

People say more is better. But what happens when you get to more? —

Well then.

You'll simply want more. After all... if more is better, when you get to more— more will still be better, right?

You don't really get ahead with that strategy, eh?

About 6yrs ago... I. Was. Miserable.

My husband was making more money then he likely ever will again. We loved the terrific town that we lived in. I had great friends. And our house was a charming 100yrold craftsman with parquet flooring and foot high crown molding of now extinct chestnut wood. (I'm talking amazing little home!)

Sounds awful huh?
So, why the misery?

At the same time: hubby was working 14hour days ON TOP of a 2 1/2 hour commute. Weekends were always iffy. I had 2 young children and at the end of just over 3yrs of this I looked at my husband and realized we barely knew each other and we were beginning to live separate lives. We were considering having a third baby and our house, charming or not, was too small. Should we consider a renovation and an additional $100,00 mortgage? Or moving to a larger home and (at the time home prices had increased to the point that our own tiny home had DOUBLED in it's value..) affording a larger home would have been tight even on our budget. Plus those pesky student loans were still nipping at our heels.

We could keep on like we were:— Increasing our consumption. Forcing Dad to work more and stress about making partner. Yet feeling more and more guilty that he's spending less time with us.

Right about this time I came across this book:

Your Money Or Your Life
By Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

It was recommended by a church leader in fact.

I was floored. As in socks completely knocked off.
There in Black and White on page 8:

(from a survey the authors took)

"...not only are most people habitually unhappy, but they can be unhappy no matter how much money they make. Even people who are doing well financially are not necessarily fulfilled."

It seems when asked how much money people made. Across thevboard EVERYone wanted more. Even those making a substantial amount of money noted that they would only be happier with yet MORE.

Later in the book they ask the question: "Is More Better?"

on Page 12:

"We become habituated to expecting ever more of ourselves and ever more frm the world, but rather than satisfaction, our experience is that the more we have, the more we want—and the less content we are with the status quo."

Oh my gosh! I think I had the deepest thought of my entire 30-ishyrs on this Earth.

Love the life you're livin'
Enjoy the Journey
Life is a Highway

All sound cliche? Not to me.

There I was living the Great American Dream.. More Is Better— right? Or is it?
I was living fairly affluent by anyone's standards. More comfortable than my childhood by a stretch. 401K maxed out each year... So why did I keep feeling like I wanted more? NEEDed more?

Whoa. What if more isn't better?
What a deep thought.

I began to dream and discuss with my husband the possibility of selling our house, paying off the student loans and moving... somewhere.

Could we do it?
Could we get our lives back?
Could we harvest more out of life with less?

I'll have to get back to you on that one... cuz I'm too busy living it!

Photos by: BrockBuilders, clspeace, bbaunach