Enough

"Enough" (detail) by Anna Horsnell

We spend a good deal of our lives chasing things. Things like a better job, our idea of success, or just more possessions of one sort or another. Our culture has evolved to set us on an endless race that can be both seductive and addictive.
Occasionally throughout my life, I've paused to take stock. Where am I? What am I doing with my life? Am I heading in the right direction or have I become distracted? Do I maybe need to shift into low gear or change direction? 
Then I ask myself what's really important? And do I already have enough, whatever that is? Have I achieved enough? Have I tried hard enough? Have I experienced enough? 
No doubt age plays a big role in how anyone would answer those questions. In the end, it's not usually the material things that really matter anyway. Was there enough time with family and friends? Was there enough walks with the dog, or enough time spent just looking at trees?  Was there enough love and compassion? The simple things truly matter.
Intention also matters. How about the phrase, "Enough is enough"? How many times has someone said, "I'm tired. I've had enough" when they are at the point of overload or exhaustion? There can be all kinds of repercussions from having too much. 
When I titled this latest of my earthling paintings "Enough", I was thinking about all the ways you can interpret that word. For me, I consider that in this finite world, we all need to consider when we have enough and what are the consequences of wanting more of anything. Truthfully, we probably already have enough. Or maybe the focus just needs to shift. 
That's a whole lot of meaning wrapped up in one word. Enough said.