The Virtue of 88 Percent

Life on the mesa

With so many people angry – and on some levels, arguably so about the evils of capitalism, maybe it's time to take a step back and take a closer look. I may not be an economist, and I may be oversimplifying. But consider this. The mere act of making a profit on goods or services is not immoral if administered in a fair, free-range way.

Yet things fall off track when subject to the "We always have to be growing, or we're dying" mentality. It's unsustainable when we have a finite amount of resources at our disposal, and everyone else has the same objective. I'm positive I'm not the first person to suggest this, and I'm just an art guy, not an MBA.

However comma, I do have a suggestion.

How about being happy with 88 percent?

If you like stuff and are predisposed to collecting and/or upgrading – cars, cameras, watches, shoes, wine, etc.- remember how it felt when things were just right? Maybe not the best, but comfy, cozy, just right. Focus on that.

Then you had to take that ten-year-old Porsche to one of those insipid "Cars and Coffee" events. You listened to at least a dozen people tell you that you had the wrong this, the wrong that, the wrong color, the wrong car, the wrong you. You drove out of the parking lot feeling terrible, and that car that gave you so much joy now languishes in the garage. You're thinking about trading up because, of course, that's where the happy place is.

But it isn't.

And this applies to nearly everything in the material world. Thanks to social media, now everyone can tell you that you and your choices suck continuously.

Infinity plus one

Remember when you were a little kid, running around with the others, and someone made a comment like: "I've got the best (insert thing here), and you said: "I've got the best thing – infinity," only to be thwarted by: "I've got infinity plus one."

How do you compete with that?

Yet this is what a big part of our society tells us we need. We must always be the best, get the best, have the best, etc. You get to that mesa that's 88 percent of the way up to the top of the mountain, and that inner voice, or companion, is telling you it's not enough; you have to push to the very top of that mountain to be happy.

But that's where everyone dies.

Maybe not everyone, but the chances of danger increase exponentially for every couple of percent from your position. As are the resources required to reach the goal.Relax, the mesa isn't so bad. You can still see your enemies approaching from all directions, and the view is great. You can kick back and watch those overachievers head for the top with your binoculars while you're having a cold one. Who knows? If you see them fall, you can lend a hand or at least call rescue services from the lounge chair.

Again, to be clear, I'm not suggesting becoming one of those "dude abides" goofballs in a gnarly Pendleton sweater that accomplishes nothing. I'd like you to think about the times you were pleased at 88 percent, decided to go for it, and the Jenga pile crashed to the ground. For those of you who actually made it to the top, for the ten seconds of exhilaration you felt, I'll bet someone said – "I'm going to do what you just did, but better, faster, cheaper, etc."

Bam, infinity plus one strikes again.

I'm not agonizing at you; I'm agonizing with you. With my 66th birthday on the horizon, I'm done chasing. I'll still support you if you decide not to accept this mission. I'll even call for help when you fall off the mountain.

Consider this your "inception" thought. Abandon the infinity plus one mentality and embrace the intimacy of staying in one place and savoring things

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