the grass is greener

Thinking more about the book I’m really, really digging … The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin.

Despite trying to always give other people the benefit of the doubt, I find myself in the “Grass is Greener” mode far too often. I do have to concede, I’ve got it pretty good. I work from home in a comfortable house. I have healthy, happy, balanced children. I have a wonderful husband who cares about me and the kids, has a steady job and also does his share of “household” chores. My parents are healthy and together. I’ve got great friends, near and far. I have had the opportunity to travel.

So, why, oh why, do I ever think that the grass is greener? When I think about it, I don’t want someone else’s life. With some tweaking, mine could be pretty great. I must work on my attempts to be authentic. To accept who I am and what appeals to me and to stop trying to be the person who I am not.

I find myself thinking jealous thoughts when I read about a stay-at-home parent who gets to watch tv or read a book in the middle of the day. I find myself wishing that I didn’t work and that I too could have more time and less pressure. Then the next day, I’ll wish I worked full-time in an office. I truly don’t want either of these things. I like working. I like working from home. While there may be bits and pieces of the other situations that might appeal to me, if I step back, I realize that the cons far outweigh the pros for me.

As part of my mid-life crisis/Happiness Project, I hope to explore and embrace the things that *I* like, as opposed to what I *think* I should like.