What does "just enough" mean?

(Baonghean)When I was young, a friend of mine said that he wanted to be rich enough to help those poorer than himself. “I want to do charity work,” he said in a very firm and confident voice, “near my house, there are orphaned children or children from very poor families who can’t go to school, and elderly people who have never known delicious food in their lives. I feel so sorry for them…”

Indeed, after graduating from high school, he worked hard to get into a top university in the country. After graduation, he was hired by a government agency with a stable income. But after a while, perhaps feeling he wasn't "rich enough," he engaged in illegal activities and got into legal trouble. Now he's penniless, released from prison, and starting his life over with considerable regret.

The story of that friend always makes me think about moderation. In this vast world, amidst so much...

With so many values ​​and their inversions or ambiguities, how can we know what is just enough? And what is enough for whom, for what, enough to do what, and from what perspective is it enough?

Just like cooking a dish, what tastes good to one person might be too salty or too bland for another, or too spicy for yet another. Similarly, a piece of clothing might fit well or look good on one person but not on another… So what is the measure of what constitutes “just right,” so that people don’t spiral into greed, excessive enthusiasm, blind competitiveness, and uncontrolled mistakes? Is there a universal answer to the concept of “just right”?

The answer is no. There is no single answer or universal solution for values ​​or for a group of people. What constitutes "enough" depends on each individual's "estimation" of their desires or dreams, but those desires or dreams must not contradict the interests of society. To some extent, you can still perceive what is enough, adjust, nurture, and control it, just as you would cook a delicious meal for many people to enjoy. There are ways to please everyone while still making the dish delicious and perfect.

I believe my childhood friend once had a beautiful dream. He felt compassion for the poor and wanted to help them have an easier life. But he forgot one thing: wealth itself is not a value. The only things that truly matter in life are those that bring people joy, happiness, comfort, and freedom.

Quynh An