The Other Side of the Fence

The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.  Of course,  generally we think it is because we have tunnel vision - it's something we don't have.  We only look at the positives rather than the negatives.  This concept can be applied to many aspects in our lives including: marriage/divorce, jobs, relationships, being poor, being wealthy, being fit, being overweight, being white, being black, having kids, not having kids, curly/straight hair, self employed, government employee, tall/short, and a million other things.

Once in awhile we are given the opportunity to experience life on the other side of the fence.  And as luck would have it, it can be great. It allows us to experience what we didn't have before.  Or it can suck and allows us to truly appreciate what we once had on what we thought was the 'wrong' side of the fence but we can't go back.  So why do we have this fascination with what we don't have regardless of how simple or complex it is?  Why is it not enough to enjoy and cherish what we have already accomplished and experienced?

Success is defined by you.  Failure is defined by you. What? Doesn't society define success and failure? It depends on your perspective.  If you are constantly striving to please or impress others in your life, who is really in charge of your happiness? Not you, 'they' are. Society has set standards that measure how we value our own success and failures.  You must decide how you permit those standards to impact your life and the choices you make.

We all are acutely aware of peer pressure but have a tendency to apply it to our teenage years and less likely to acknowledge that it still persists into adulthood.  You must ask yourself how much emphasis it weighs on your decisions.  In fact, most of us fail to realize it has an impact on us.  in the back of our minds, we wonder what people will think? How will they react? What will be the reward? Or will there be consequences?

We are complex beings and nothing is as simple as it seems.  We act and react based on our experiences or lack of experience.  Life is a constant learning lesson with some lessons being more important than others.  The choices you make in regard to those lessons are just that - your choices.  So next time you think the grass is greener, remember that the lawn may have been treated with pesticide and make look nice and welcoming, but in the end it might poison you.