Why Nothing Will Ever Be Enough For Us
Our cravings can also be built in warnings
An ode to Black Friday
We used to take one day, set it aside and give Thanks. Religious or not, we all fit nicely into the Thanksgiving mold. On this day above all, we could contemplate what we have, who we have, and give thanks. One day to cease from the consumption and materialism. It’s even a great day to volunteer to help those in need.
But now the stores open at 2pm.
2pm.
An hour after the majority of us finish our first plate.
2pm. Thanksgiving Day
In the musical “The Greatest Showman”, PT Barnum dreams of a better life for his family. He sees his creative potential and imagines a new world he creates. To him everything is for us, for the family. He sings,
‘Cause every night I lie in bed/The brightest colors fill my head/A million dreams are keeping me awake/I think of what the world could be…There’s a house we can build/Every room inside is filled/With things from far away/The special things I compile/Each one there to make you smile
Barnum is a great success, and ever so slightly makes a shift from dreaming for his family to dreaming for more. When he hears the song of Jenny Lind, a celebrated vocalist in England, he sees grander lights; lights reaching further than his circus. He sees a chance to go beyond the financial stability of his family. He sees the allure of developing his own name.
The allure and shine of the glory was too much for him, and Barnum’s willingness to step away from family along with the warning against it come in the form of a paradox within the song Never Enough.
Jackman paints our picture in detail. His eyes are glossed over. He loses awareness of his location. Mouth open, his head moves and sways as the chords ring out, following the invisible path of the song, mimicking the expressions of the singer. He is puppet to the master of ego.
Jenny sings…
All the shine of a thousand spotlights/All the stars we steal from the night sky/Will never be enough, never be enough/Towers of gold are still too little/These hands could hold the world but it’ll/Never be enough, never be enough
The duality of its message lands miles from Barnum’s understanding. Packaged in applause and beauty, the thing he wanted most contained a self fulfilling prophecy. P.T.’s circus isn’t enough. There’s more to grow. More to go get. More chasing. More succeeding. More being great. Being better.
However, the craving itself gives hint at the future. Were he to gain the world, he’d lose his own soul, because it would never be enough. Those of us who live in the never enough will never have enough. The same song that gave word to his innermost desire was the song that warned him against that same desire. Never enough is never enough. Like Barnum, we drink the salt water each time, believing with all our hearts that this time it was satisfy.
Some would read this right now as they race, hearts beating hands sweating, to the nearest Electronics Mart and disagree. Some would read from atop the mansion and mock. They are satisfied. They’re just hard workers. Workaholics they call themselves, like it’s a badge of honor. If you’re 24/7, you’re one of the greats. Some have already sacrificed something they aren’t aware they’ve sacrificed but are still riding high in the shine and allure.
Lights. We chase them, and they blind us. This is the duality of our consumption mentality.
Oh, but this goes beyond Black Friday. This is for the perfectionist in his work or the clean freak who doesn’t want that scratch on his new furniture. This is for the jealous boyfriend that never let’s her relax in her own skin. This is for the pastor that needs more response from his people. This is for the writer who wanted 5 reads not 3, and then 10 not 5. This is for the kid on ThirdNight Tier 20 when the prize comes at Tier 25. This is for the supervisor that can’t seem to let people own their work, micromanaging with the red pen.
This is for us all.
Please don’t shop at 2 pm on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, if you need something on Black Friday, go grab it, but walk slow. Carry a coffee with you. Smile at someone.
You’re car is going to be dirty. Your business probably isn’t that memorable anyway. Your desk costs $150 on sale at Target. It’s gonna get scratched. Calm down.
Whatever we enslave ourselves to will also be our greatest enemy.
For years and years/I chased their cheers/The crazy speed of always needing more/But when I stop/And see you here/I remember who all this was for — PT Barnum, From Now On
