Most of us hear the term in reference to a person, that is admired, respected, loved etc for having the appearance of having it all. Brains, beauty, family, money, health.  The word appearance is critical because without having a personal relationship with that person, it would be difficult truly to determine if that person has the "total package."  Even with relationship, we can still be fooled. We all know that appearances can be deceiving.  What may be walking and quacking like  duck could actually be a vulture.  What appears beautiful and put together can really be falling apart. Upon further evaluation then, maybe we should reconsider this terminology.

The world that we live in is not an all or nothing world.  For a person to possess in total is not only an impractically, it is a falsehood.  The glorious thing about this life is that we don't have it all, we can't get it all and we certainly don't know it all.  In a way I'm reminded of the Adam and Eve story about not eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Because of the trickster, the serpent appealing to our wanting nature, Eve and subsequently Adam ate, because they wanted it all.

Think of it this way. If given the opportunity to have it all, to be the total package, (whatever that means to you), upon receiving it, what would you do? You'd figure out that all isn't all it's cracked up to be, so you'd be left wanting, once again.  I'd like us to consider some different terminology -- satisfied and enough.

I'm not treading on new territory here.  Yet, I think it may be time for a little reinforcement.  Some of us are in a holiday frame of mind, giving gifts, going to parties and such.  During the holiday season, tons of money is spent on giving to people who likely have enough.  They don't realize it, neither do we but we aim to please and aim to show our love/admiration or gratitude to others by showering them with gifts.  Don't get me wrong, giving is a beautiful thing.  I believe that part of our duty on earth is to give, but to give to excess or to financial detriment is silly and even wasteful. During this holiday season consider giving a gift of a different sort, a hug, a smile, a song, some time or by telling someone that you love them. 

The "total package" and "having it all" are ideals that are unreachable.  What is reachable is satisfaction with who you are, with whom or what love, and your impact on the world around you.  You could always do or get more, but on that day when you can say "I don't need to/I don't need that" congratulations, you have reached, enough.