enOugh, already! (wOty 2014)
hellO lOvely and creative sOuls!
As the new year marches On, I hOpe yOu are happy, safe, warm and healthy. Here in the Southwest, I can say I have 3 out of four of those going for me, and I’m feeling very grateful for every sunshiny day that comes our way!
Last December, I decided to choose a “wOrd Of the year” (wOty) to help me stay focused, creative and engaged with life. With that in mind, if you haven’t guessed already, my 2014 wOty is enOugh.
Depending on how it is used, enOugh can mean:
- As much as required,
- adequately,
- fairly, or
- impatient desire.
I chose to begin my exploration by asking some tough questions. In our culture, families and churches, we are bombarded with the message that enough is never enough, so it was (and still is) a bit rattling to ask –
Is there enough? Do I have enough? Am I enough?
If that wasn’t scary enOugh, my health began deteriorating in early January. Much to my dismay, no matter what I did or didn’t do, the extreme fatigue, headaches and nausea came flooding back. It left me screaming, enOugh, already! How much more of this can I take? Will it ever end? A new (very loud) question now arose –
When is enough, enough?
As the second week of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics begin, I am so struck by the depth and rawness of the personal stories behind the Games. The years and years of hard work, the sacrifices, loss, injuries and disappointments the athletes and their families experience take my breath away. The stories are made even more poignant when the outcome is not the gold medal, or for many athletes, including the Americans at these games, no medal at all.
The truth is, none of us make it through this life without heartbreak and gut-wrenching loss. And even though we don’t win any medals for choosing to survive and carry on, we sure do deserve them. Life leaves many of us, including the amazing and gifted Olympians, asking, “Am I enough“? And isn’t that heartbreaking enOugh, knowing how hard each one of us has worked to live a good life and earn our “gold medals”?
So, as I make plans to get myself into the Mayo Clinic for a consultation to finally determine what I’m battling, I am learning that:
- I am strong enOugh to keep going.
- I am strong enOugh to keep asking the hard questions.
- I am brave enOugh to hear the answers.
- Life is hard enOugh without trying to prove I am enOugh.
- I’m the only one who has to believe I am enOugh.
- There is enOugh love for all of us.
May you feel the love that surrounds you,
and know that you are truly enough.
Be gentle. Be brave. Be true.
lOve, vickiO
This post is dedicated to John Berg, an amazing and loving man, who inspired me to be a better person and enjoy life as it comes. Thank you for loving me and showing me there is always enough. You will be missed but never forgotten.
VickiO Art 
Vicki, this is a lovely post and dedication. Thank you for introducing me to John Berg and his incredible family. John will be a hero of mine through eternity. I know you are more than enOugh, I Love you.
Thank you, Karla❤️! John is a hero of mine, and so are you. Thank you for being part of my family, too. Wishing you a more than enough jOy day! lOve yOu❤️
yOu are enOugh. lOve.
Thank you, Dianne❤️ lOve yOu.
Not only do I continue learn what an amazing, creative and inspirational influence you have with what you share in your blogs, but I learn more about myself with each one of your posts. Learn to accept, learn to push when acceptable, learn to love in ways I didn’t know were possible. Thank you!
Thank you for your beautiful words and for your love. You continue to inspire me to keep saying and living my truth. Love you, Girl!
So glad to hear that the Mayo Clinic is in your near future. 2 years of this is a long, long time. Love you, think of you so often. You go girl!!!!
Ruth, I keep thinking about the tenacity and grit it took to get us across the state of Minnesota on your bicycles! We are still made of that, and I won’t give up on trying to find an answer and get well. Love you❤️!
I absolutely love this word play and am totally inspired ENOUGH by it!!! Thanks so much for this great post!!
Thanks so much, Karrlin!
This was well said Vicki.. Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough.. Great word.. XX And love the are ” there is ,i have, i am …. Perfect.
Sandy, thanks so much for visiting and for your kind words. I’m finding many meanings of enough is enough!
Love the ART …. not the are :(… but you are !
enOugh
Vicki…..I pray your visit at mayo will bring some answers. Please let me know what happens, its so crazy that I never even met you, but feel such compassion for what you are going through. There are people who DO care…. keep me posted. Julie
P.S Your artwork brings a smile to my face, keep up the creativity, its awesome!
Thank you so much, Julie. Your messages really help. I also feel a real kinship with those of us walking this path. I’m anxious about my Mayo appointment, but we are hoping for some understanding and answers. I hope you like Dr. G, and that you find him helpful and concerned. Let him know how you found about about him : ) Let’s stay in touch❤️ My email address is vickioart@cox.net Hugs to you!