This old farmhouse we call home is getting a facelift.
New roof, siding, an open front porch replacing an old three-season enclosed porch that was a catch all for things that I couldn't part with, didn't know what to do with or thought I might use someday.
Well, someday is here and it's time to clean out that hoarders corner of the house and deal with it once and for all, in some form or fashion.
I'd like nothing more than to gut the inside of the house to the skeleton and redesign, rebuild and remodel from the inside out after the exterior is done. But that is not going to happen. And I've come to the conclusion that I don't care. It's not going to be perfect, 100 percent finished, and worthy of a Pinterest before and after photo; at least not while I'm living here. The interior will get what it must—replacing pieces and parts that are beyond another shot at usefulness and that will be that. Enough.
A friend noticed our project and sadly told me that old farm houses have a never ceasing list of home improvement projects waiting to be perfected. Way to be a buzz kill!
But I know that I have enough, and have learned to be content in enough. (Although my old porch would beg to differ and say my enough is too much.) My roof no longer leaks, and the drafts will no longer whistle through gaps. There is even one ridiculously creepy sound the house makes when the wind blows in just the right direction and speed that I will miss.
Plenty of the world gets caught up in the more, better, nicer, never done, gotta make it perfect mentality. They never get to the point of enough. It's not just individuals in society, either. It's found in business, banking, government, entertainment, and yes, even farms and their owners. More, better, bigger, trying to get to the mountaintop of the best.
How do we get caught up in that mentality? It's quite simple, actually. The mentality, it's everywhere. We're trying to fill a void in the soul that we didn't even know was there.
I want to be content; not that I always will be, but when I become discontent, I'll try to reflect on what is enough.
I am enough. You are enough. You probably have enough. You probably have enough for yourself and some to share; I know I do.
Bev Berens is a mom to 4-H and FFA members in Michigan. Do you have a story to share? Email her at uphillfarm494@yahoo.com.