Have you ever thought life would be better ANYWHERE other than where you are right now? Maybe some of your thoughts go something like this:
Life will be better once I’m out of debt.
I can’t wait until I’m retired because then I can do what I want when I want.
If only I lived somewhere warm I could exercise all year round and I would be so fit.
If I could just lose 10 pounds I know I would feel better.
Truth is some of your problems may go away once you have met all of your “if only’s” and “better when’s” but it won’t make the perfect life that fairy tales are made of. New problems will arise and you’ll likely find yourself wishing for this “perfect” life to be different still. We can only imagine that the grass will be greener on the other side because it’s only when we live it do we actually see it for what it really is.
Whatever ideal you have in mind about an alternate lifestyle, location, financial situation etc… rest assured that each one will be met with it’s own unique set of problems.
So what can you do about this? Choose to be content with what you already have.
Look around you and be truly grateful for all that you see. Realize that there are people less fortunate than you and right now, rightly or wrongly, they are wishing for your exact lifestyle. Think back to 2 years ago, what were you wishing for then? Where did you want to be? Odds are you were largely wishing to be right where you are now. Life happens so gradually that you tend to lose all perspective of achievements, growth and progress.
It’s great to dream BIG. But those dreams should not cloud the greatness you have in front of you right now. Consider the truth in the grass being the greenest right under your feet.
What are your thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Please let me know what you think.
See also:
Don’t Wait Their Little Lives Away
Life Sucks And Then You Choose
Go Ahead Make Your Day: 50 Ways To Make Today Shine
Photo courtesy of: psycherika
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Comments
Wonderful post! The grass is always green right under your feet — I love it!
Where we are is where we’re meant to be and there are always good things if we look for the positive. 
Positively Present´s last blog ..growing up is optional
@ Positively Present – Exactly! We just have to look and we’ll find the positive in anything really. I’m glad you liked it thanks for your comment!
Definitely agree!! Life is too short not to be happy with what you have! I try to make the best of every day. Even if a bill is due and I am worried about it, I end up turning it around by thinking that I have my whole family here with me now and it could be worse! Thanks for sharing!
Chele´s last blog ..Teaching God’s Youth
I love this post. We can waste so much of live with the “if only’s”. Life is too short not to enjoy what we have right now. Thanks for reminding us.
Marci@OvercomingBusy´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday- July 27, 2009
@ Chele – That’s a great way to maintain perspective thinking that things could be worse because yes, it could be worse.
@ Marci – Thanks I’m glad you liked it! There usually is a ton to be grateful for we just have to look closely
Hi Sherri.
Thanks for the grounding and inspiring reminder!
~Kleigh
Kleigh´s last blog ..Drying Out
@ Kleigh – Hi good to see you! You’re quite welcome and I’m really glad you liked it!
I found it difficult to wean myself off thinking the grass is greener until I realized that will never stop.
Once you are there where the grass is greener than I found other things that were greener still. That reaching to where I was not, got tiring and left me with lost time, the time that I could have loved if I were not so focused on that other greener grass.
Now I am learning to enjoy where I am and from that place I can still go forward but no longer with yearning but with anticipation.
Wilma Ham´s last blog ..How mother and daughter manage the fear driven corporate world.
@ Wilma – That’s exactly it! I think it’s only natural to want what you don’t have but if you do it long enough you’ll eventually realize that whatever the “better” situation is is not without it’s problems as well. Unfortunately, want and desire for something better is a thirst that is never quenched because once you have something better…you guessed it there’s something even better!
I’m glad you’ve learned that and are enjoying where you’re at now that’s a great position to be in!
Hey ,
A very interesting point that you have made in this article .. Unluckily we all look towards the horizons instead of looking exactly where we are and enjoy the moment ..
Zen way of living is all about being in the moment …
Regards
Sudeep
Sudeep´s last blog ..Some more thoughts on 8 Limbs of Yoga !!
@ Sudeep – Welcome! It’s true a lot of people tend to look to the future too much and don’t see all the good they have right here right now. It’s easy to forget that what you have now is what you were wishing for years ago. It’s all about perspective and being content with what you have. Thanks for your comment!
Hey Sherri,
Totally agree with you, life is just to short to think like that. Thanks for sharing.
Mel the Dietitian´s last blog ..Are Hot Dogs Really Unhealthy?
hey sherri
ahh… good ‘ol eckhart tolle 101
really like the way you put that, grass is always greener under your feet…
def agree that it’s great to “dream big”. it’s great to have goals, as long as you are impartial about whether you get them or not…. to get to a point where you are okay with whatever happens… whether you meet your goal or not.
…that way there’s no struggle. no suffering.
awwwwsome post.
gave it a stumble
keep well and in touch sheri
alex – unleash reality
What a lovely thought .. “The grass is always green right under your feet”
I’m making it my Facebook update
@ Mel – I’m glad you like it! Good to see you!
@ Alex – Thanks for the kind words! You’re right if we aren’t attached to any particular outcome you can enjoy where ever you end up even if it wasn’t the ideal or what “should” have been. Thanks for your comment and the stumble
@ Vinisha – Welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed the post and happy Facebooking