In Sweden we have a certain word: lagom. Roughly translated, it means “just enough” or “enough for everyone.” Interestingly, the word is said to come from laget om — “the team around” or “around the team.”

According to an old explanation, it referred to the custom of passing a drinking jar around the circle at gatherings. Each person was expected to take only enough so that it would last the whole team around. Not too much, not too little — lagom.

Today, we Swedes sometimes use the word almost dismissively about ourselves. We call Sweden “the land of lagom,” suggesting that we are too careful, too modest, too unwilling to stand out or claim more for ourselves.

But perhaps there is wisdom hidden in the older meaning of the word.

Not taking too much.

Not taking too little.

But enough so that life may continue to be shared.