Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot.
Ben Zoma, Ethics of the Fathers
Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.
Ben Franklin (not related to Ben Zoma)
Picture 1957 - Lamberton
Elementary School in Philadelphia – 1957 – after school – each kid has their
report card in hand.
I got 11 A’s and 1 B. Marline L and Alan G got 12 A’s. Both Marlene and Alan made it a point to flaunt their better report card in this 9 year old writer’s face - metaphorically ‘na na na na na – we’re better – you’re not enough.’
The proverbial ‘B’ in the bonnet or Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap.
Whether 8 years of age 9 years of age 40 or 70+ that ‘more-onic’ behavior of ‘I’m more, you’re less’ still persists reinforced by acculturation. (1)
Stipulating:
Enough is Latin is ‘satis’
Satisfaction is fulfillment, contentment (and also redress)
Satiated is quenched
Satisfaction is preferred to satisfactory (which is merely adequate and a ‘C’ on one’s report card which for brethren Jewish kids and parents if equivalent to an F.
Now the Yiddish Nachas is ‘special
joy’ fulfillment, proud enjoyment) (from Hebrew נחת nachat,
"relaxation" ((now that the child is no longer living in the basement
after college or still a barista at Starbucks). The emphasis of ‘nachas’ when
it comes to Jewish kid’s A’s (even better A+s) escalated into almost ecstasy
upon the child becoming a ‘doctor’ is proud enjoyment & satisfaction thru reflection on the
parent. Typically, nachas is outside in rather than the satisfaction (enough)
of INside out ‘enough!’
However, nachas living thru another (even of one’s lineage) outside in is a sugar high – more excellent nachos than nachas- never enough let alone the satis of satisfaction as ‘enough’ which is an INside out process – aligning means with meaning – again INside out.
(1) Ironically, in finance as well as other aspects of life ‘more, better, now’ has a habit of – in time – becoming ‘less, worse, later’ and certainly no guarantee of contentment let alone equanimity.
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