You know those moments when you’re
looking at someone and you think, wow, I wish my life was like theirs? Or from
the other side, you look at what they’re going through and think, oh, wow, I am
so glad that’s not me. And you sort of do this in-mind comparison of lives—not
because life is a competition, but because this is how we gain admiration,
empathy and compassion. These are moments of growth, moments of truth, I think.
Or conversely, and for reasons I will
never understand, there are those who believe life really is a competition, and
they set out to win. Except it’s an impossible thing to do, because no hero in
the world can win every single battle. And no one person can horde all the
money. And no single person will ever own all the recognition. Or beauty. Or
the biggest house/fastest car/best book deal/whatever. And the problem with
this game they play is that because of all the above mentioned things, those
people will never feel like they win at anything. How discouraging! And also, I
think, lonely.
The truth: comparing ourselves to
others is highly unhealthy. Life does NOT = competition.
Another truth: growing in
admiration, empathy and compassion is great as long as we don’t spoil it with
the above mentioned mistake.
It is absolutely, totally, and
completely possible to be happy for the success of others, exclusive of
resentment, anger, or envy. It is. And it is up to us to decide what we do with
both our successes and our failures. I’ve had some of both this week. I did not
cry hard over the failures, nor did I run out and celebrate the successes,
because I’m trying hard to take it all in stride. Right now it would be so easy
to look at the journeys of others and wish for things not in my direct path.
But I don’t. I won’t.
Because my journey is mine, and mine
alone. I am the one who chose to strap on my seat belt and say yes to the ride.
And it’s up to me to keep my hands inside the cart and hold on.
When the car stops and I climb out,
I truly, genuinely hope that there are people waiting for me on the platform,
as well as those in the cars not far behind mine. Because no matter how fast or
how slow or which track we choose to take, we are all attempting to end up in
the same place.
And I think it would be really
awesome if we could all plan one big party in the end.
1 comment:
Love this. :) One of my biggest hurdles in my life so far has been the competition thing, which is odd because I've never thought of myself as competitive. I do, however, compare, compare, compare, compare ALL the time. I'm trying so hard to get over all of it and just be happy for everyone rather than resentful. It takes a conscious effort. When I focus on that, I do so much better.
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