“Every increased possession loads us with new weariness.” John Ruskin, Late 19th century English art critic and thinker.
This Englishman probably didn’t known about lagom, the Swedish concept of enough. It’s the national cultural ethos that is based on fairness and cooperation- without abdicating independence and individualism. Swedes describe it as “everything in moderation” or finding the middle of the middle path.
If you’re overworked, overstuffed, overcommitted, and over contacted, lagom might sound pretty good. And the way to practice lagom is to have more of less.
We often use the expression ‘more or less’ meaning basically, generally, or approximately. Change one little letter and you’ve got something new to ponder. Something more interesting. Something less obvious.
Less stress. Less mess. Less hurriedness. Less multitasking. Less stuff you don’t love. Less stuff you don’t even like!
The balance between more and less is enough. I’m a self-proclaimed “enoughist- my pushback on minimalism. I am one with the Swedes. I love lagom.
Enough evens the score. It is the place of balance, equilibrium, harmony. It’s a contented place. Not stuffed or starved. Not frantic or bored. Not too hot or too cold. Just right.
Like the two crows, find your balance. (And maybe a little more light!)