It’s “Greener” on the Other Side

I like to think I embrace life and take time to enjoy where I am right now — this very moment — but I know that’s NOT always true. I’m a competitive person and I’ve always pushed myself to be better, do more, and work harder. While I’m proud of my accomplishments, I also see the value in being content with my current situation.

Let me bring you back a few years {OK, more like 15 years} to when I was in 5th grade!

I was 10 years old and I got my first babysitting job. It was one day a week and I made a grand total of $12 each time!

I can remember how excited I was to get that job. I can also remember telling my younger sister how much money I was going to make…and then whipping out my calculator to figure out just how much I could make after one year!

However, after a month or two, I wasn’t satisfied with my $12 per week…I wanted more. So I found another babysitting job and made more money, but then I never had time to play with my friends.

UPDATE: I decided that I hated babysitting and quit both jobs!

The grass was always greener on the other side.

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Fast-forward 7 years — I’m a senior in high school and can’t wait to graduate.

I loved school but I just knew college was going to be SO much better than high school. I couldn’t wait to get into the dorms, be more independent, have more responsibility and be treated like an adult.

After a month of college,  I felt so overwhelmed with all my homework, my new responsibilities…and trying to do my own laundry! I remember talking with my roommate about how great it would be to go back to high school where everything was “better”.

UPDATE: after my first semester, I decided I loved college and even graduated in 3 years.

The grass was always greener on the other side.

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Three years later, I’m ready to graduate college, get married,  buy a house, and get a “real job” — I was just a little bit excited!

I could only image how much fun it was going to be to wake up every day and head off to our jobs, come home and cook dinner in my own kitchen {don’t start laughing yet}, and spend all our extra time fixing up our home and doing “whatever we wanted to do”…{OK, now you may start laughing}

After the bills started coming in, we realized that maybe we couldn’t do whatever we wanted to do…or even half of what we wanted to do. And I soon realized that having a job wasn’t as glamorous as I thought it would be. We often joked about how much easier life would be if we just moved back in with mom and dad!

UPDATE: We really do love living in our house and I love cooking in my kitchen {most of the time}. I’m still not a big fan of “real jobs”…but I guess I can’t win every time.

The grass was always greener on the other side.

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You think I would have learned something from all of these experiences but even now, I find myself thinking about the bright green grass over there — on the other side.

“If only our house was bigger, if only I made more money, if only my blog had more followers, if only I was more creative {or organized}, if only I lost 5 pounds, if only… {you fill in the blank}

I guess I finally realized that there will always be something I want to change,  an area I want to improve in, and someone who’s better than me at everything {it stinks doesn’t it!}. Just like there will always be laundry to wash, a house to clean, and bills to pay — it’s just part of life I guess.

Now, don’t for one second think I’m going to stop making lists, planning my days, setting goals, working on projects, or thinking up crazy ideas. I will still do ALL of it…and enjoy the feeling of productivity! However, I am learning {thanks to my husband} that it’s OK to simply be content with my current condition.

What about you?

Are you like me; always striving to improve? Or have you learned to “be content, whatever the circumstances”?