Enough

 

 

As a writer, I’ve developed an enduring and almost reverent respect for the power of words; words can make you or break you, build you or kill you, they inspire you or conspire against you; so, words are important.
Some words, however, have entirely too much power without having any significant or quantifiable meaning; the subject of today’s lesson is the word: ENOUGH.

The Cambridge dictionary states the following:

1. As much as is necessary; in the amount or to the degree needed.
2. As much as or more than is wanted

In the first definition of ‘enough’, the words, ‘necessary’, ‘amount’ and ‘degree’ all point to vague measurements that are wholly subjective and without any metric by which to indicate the achievement of a thing.

The second definition of ‘enough’ is no better: ‘as much as’; really?

We have weaponized this word ‘enough’, enough; if you’re unclear regarding my meaning, let me provide some examples:

• Not good enough
• Not pretty enough
• Not tall enough
• Not smart enough
• Not clean enough
• Not rich enough
• I’ve had enough
• Enough is enough

I think it’s time we develop an ‘enough’ scale, so that the next time someone says you didn’t do ‘enough’, you can ask; what level enough should I have done?

In the interim we can simply use one of two scales:

The basic,

• Enough
• Enougher
• Enoughest

Later on, we can use a five-tier scale like they do in surveys,

1. Not nearly enough
2. Close, but not enough
3. Enough
4. More than enough
5. Enough is enough, I’ve had enough

Too often supervisors and managers accost their staff for non-performance, yet when asked to explain what is required or lacking, they’re bombarded with phrases like, ‘you don’t seem motivated enough’, ‘you’re not trying hard enough’ or ‘you don’t do enough’.
Now, the employee can ask, ‘am I doing not nearly enough?’ or ‘close, but not enough?’

This should help bridge the impossible ‘enough’ gap that unfair superiors use as an anchor to bring down others.

When a guy approaches a girl across the bar, club or party, after building up ‘enough’ courage and rehearsing his best line, it is so absolutely demoralizing to hear that he’s ‘not handsome enough’ or ‘not tall enough’; if only there was a scale where he could request a score of his enoughness, then, he could retreat, work on his ‘enough’ muscle, build it up and return another day, confident that he has achieved the ‘enough’ quota required.

I’m sure we’ve all experienced our own share of subjective judgement or persecution with the word ‘enough’ at the centre of it all.

The truth is, we don’t care ‘enough’ about our fellow human beings to stop and think before using words like this, that possess the power to break the will of the strongest, shatter the hopes of the hopeful and create nightmares for the constant dreamer.

Enough is enough.

Today, I want us to remember and apply these words whenever you’re feeling low, hopeless, or lost:

• You are beautiful enough
• You are strong enough
• You are brave enough
• You are good enough
• You are smart enough

And if you have trouble remembering which to apply to what situation, remembering just this one will be ‘enough’:

YOU ARE ENOUGH.

Well, I think I’ve written ‘enough’ for today, so until next time, that’s ‘enough’.

Later.

 

 

Thanks for indulging my ramblings. If you enjoyed my deliberations, be sure to check out my thriller novels The Martial Art and On Jamaica Government Service on various platforms. They’re available in eBook, Paperback and Hardcover, and Audiobooks coming soon.

However, if you’re having commitment issues, check out my FREE short story, The Martial Art Origins: Severance, available as a free download.

You can explore my site for more interesting content.

Keep Reading. Cheers.

Dane