July 2025
Word count: 359 Reading time: 2.4 min.
Wanting less is having more. It's a beautiful idea, but not always easy to teach, especially to a six-year-old who wants a new doll every day.
Lately, my daughter has been asking for toys relentlessly. Tiny things, big things, in-store, online, in ads. At first, I brushed it off. But the constant "Can I have…" became a craving. And while part of me wants to say yes (because joy, because childhood), I realized I was watching overconsumption take root in real time.
So we started talking. Not just about dolls, but about how the world is designed to make us want more. Commercials, colors, placement, and trends—it's not really about the toy. It's about keeping us chasing the next one. The system tells us we're missing something.
But we're not.
We're full.
We have enough.
She is enough.
And I reminded myself: our no must outlast their begging (thank you, Jonathan Haidt). Because our yes needs to mean something.
Wanting less isn't about denying joy. It's about finding joy in what we already have. It's not always easy. But it's worth it.
She's six. She may not fully get it yet. But she's listening. And maybe that's the first step toward a tailored and intentional life.
