More than enough ?

How do we know when we have enough of anything ?

I'm not talking about satiation here - such as having too many drinks, too much ice cream or too many pairs of shoes, like Imelda Marcos. How much is too much when it comes to things like food or consumer goods, time spent working for a living, or finding ways to be happier in our lives by seeking out lifestyle gurus and religions ? Is life really all about reaching out for the next best thing (be it nirvana or nike trainers) rather than appreciating what we have at our own feet ?

I'm 58 now and can't be bothered to compete anymore, so I think I have found a soul mate in The Times journalist John Naish.

His recent book "Enough: breaking free from the world of more" was just what I needed to read. He champions the importance of setting limitations on our personal desires - what he calls developing a sense of "enough". A halt sign in the "my way" code I reckon.

Here's a quote from his book about the true value of friendship:

"The world of more tells us that the most important things in our lives are the consumer items that we don't yet have in our lives. But in truth our most valuable possessions can't be bought or sold, according to a survey of 10,000 Britons who were asked to rate their level of happiness and answer questions on their wealth, health and social relations....

According to research conducted by Nattavudh Powdthavee at the London Institute of Education, here are the things we value most, together with how much they are worth:

• Seeing friends and relatives most days is worth the equivalent of a pay rise of £63,833 a year.
• Chating to neighbours frequently makes us as happy as if we had been handed a £37,000 increase.
• Getting married is the same as an extra £50,000 in the pay packet (and that's after the cost of the wedding).
• Excellent health pips all of them, coming in at £300,000 a year."

Don't you just hate it when intangibles like happiness are given a monetary value ? But then again, maybe we do need to take a long hard look at what really matters most to us.

Enough said.

Enough: Breaking free from the world of more (2008) by John Naish is published by Hodder & Stoughton.