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How Would You Define “The Good Life?”
By JLP | January 17, 2008
Recently I was reading Charles Swindoll’s Living on the Ragged Edge
“The good life—the one that truly satisfies—exists only when we stop wanting a better one. It is the condition of savoring what is rather than longing for what might be. The itch for things, the lust for more—so brilliantly injected by those who peddle them—is a virus draining our souls of happy contentment. Have you noticed? A man never earns enough. A woman is never beautiful enough. Clothes are never fashionable enough. Cars are never nice enough. Gadgets are never modern enough. Houses are never furnished enough. Food is never fancy enough. Relationships are never romantic enough. Life is never full enough.”
I like that definition. My only question is how do you balance being content with what you have with the quest to better yourself? I think the key is to keep the things in your life in perspective. The things in your life should not be ruling your life. In other words, you shouldn’t be going into debt or foresaking your retirement plan in order to purchase the “good life.”
I remember one time a customer of the grocery store I worked at told me that she was depressed because she couldn’t give her two little boys lots of things. Her husband had left her and money was scarce. I told her that she had one very valuable thing she could give her boys: her time. I told her that she should take her kids to the library and read books to them. I told her to take them on walks and go to the park. I told her that instead of dwelling on the things she couldn’t give them, she should think of what she could give them. Her kids would remember her time way more than they would ever remember any of the things she bought them.
I don’t know if my “advice” helped her or not. I moved to Texas not too long after that and I haven’t seen nor talked to her since then. Her kids are all grown up by now. I’m sure her situation was tough. It’s no fun to be without money (I’ve been there before!) but I do think that we tend to dwell on the things that we don’t have rather than the things we do have.
Anyway, what are your thoughts on the good life? What constitutes the “good life” to you?
Topics: Miscellaneous | 8 Comments »
January 17th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Wonderful advice.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I’ll know I’ve reached “the good life” when I can afford to fly private.
Okay, just kidding (okay actually only half-kidding).
That was indeed some great advice you gave that woman, and a good reminder for me as well.
Unfortunately, I find that no matter how much we attain, it always takes effort to pause, reflect, and appreciate all the things that you do have. I try to adhere to a philosophy of “no regrets”. My goal is to be able to look in the mirror and know that I’ve done the best I could with the god-given tools I was granted at birth, regardless of any obstacles life may have thrown in my path.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:53 am
For me, good food, good health and a good family life are keys to a happy life. I wouldnt spend a lot of money for a new car but I dont try to cut corners when it comes to food. I think spending money on something you can consume, such as food or travel, will help make you much more happy than something that you buy and hold on to indefinitely — like an iPod or cell phone.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
The definition of a “good life” could also be the definition of stagnation. There is something to be said for not being willing to live with the status quo, say like MLK Jr. (since his holiday is coming up soon).
But I hear what you are saying. It is hard to have the “good life” when you are affected with stuffitis, the constant need for more new stuff.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I agree with the definition and I feel that I’ve achieved ‘the good life’ already. I have a wonderful child, my health, a home (that I didn’t over extend on, by the way), a good job and some money in the bank. As an American, I thought that was the ‘dream’…for us to be happy, healthy and homeowners.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
No stressing out when an emergency arises, I cannot think of anything in life that I want that I don’t have!
I’m living the GOOD life
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:22 am
Honestly, to me, `the good life’ is appreciating what you have right here, right now. The older I get, the more I count my blessings and focus less on the material things I don’t have. I have every material thing I need – a home, a solid job and income, food, an auto that’s paid for…but most importantly, my life is rich with love, companionship, family and friends. That is what truly makes my life complete and makes my heart shine.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 pm
[...] be happy with what you have now, not in the future.” That is very true. It reminds me of this post I did back in [...]