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When enough is really too much

We live lives of too much. Too many clothes, too many shoes, more food than we can eat—and five times more toothpaste than we need. And there’s a price

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Through the lens of sufficiency, nearly everything around us turns out to be excessive, often by strategy. Illustration by C Y Gopinath using AI

Through the lens of sufficiency, nearly everything around us turns out to be excessive, often by strategy. Illustration by C Y Gopinath using AI

C Y GopinathSometimes a question about toothpaste enters my head in the morning. It pops up after I stumble to the bathroom, eyes wide shut, find my toothbrush, and squeeze out the toothpaste. It slides out like a sweet, white, chubby slug with red stripes, that cheerful blob shape made famous by millions of TV spots. The question also slides out around then, short and sweet like the blob—Do I need so much?

People normally don’t waste time on such trivial matters. Toothpaste is a passing blip in the day, and who cares if you squeeze out a little more or less? It tastes zesty, your mouth zings afterward and you’re off to a great start. I would have moved on, but the caffeine jolt I got next reminded me of two of life’s guiding principles—Never let a good question go unanswered; and Details matter. 

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