your own life
It is easy to be jealous.
It is easy to be envious.
I will admit I can catch myself falling into the “it’s not fair trap” and especially as of late.
Sometimes it is over the big stuff and sometimes over the small stuff. You know like why can’t everyone have Kim Kardashian asses and Jennifer Aniston arms.
Those are totally legitimate questions.
But then I remember what a wise friend of mine always says.
But would you want her life to have what she has?
And the answer to that question is always always always no.
I wouldn’t trade my husband, my home, my life for anything that someone else has. Ever.
Not even for Kim K’s ass.
I feel like we all spend so much time wishing for something that someone else has that we forget about what we do have.
We forget about how lucky we are and the blessings we each have.
I know I do. All the time.
But when push comes to shove I would fight for my life just the way it is today. Because even though things don’t always work out like I want, or if I don’t look as great as I think I could….it is still MY life. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
A-n-y-t-h-i-n-g.
And so I give you…
[No More Feeling Sorry For Myself] Gluten-Free Banana Nut Muffins
1 1/4 cups Pamela’s Gluten-Free Pancake & Baking Mix
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 cup mashed banana (I used 2 medium bananas)
1 egg, large
1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all ingredients together and spoon 2/3 full into a greased muffin tin (or use paper liners). Bake 18-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Makes: 8 muffins
These help. Like a lot. Like a whole lot.
When you feel sorry for yourself what do you do to turn your attitude around?
What Kelly Said 
Jason has made me remember this lately. Everyone has their own set of problems. Just because so and so has one thing easier, she might not have something else. I was recently upset because it seemed to me that if any of my friends lost their jobs, like I just did, their significant other had enough money to support them both whereas Jason does not. But he reminded me that while that might be true, one person I was talking about can’t sell his house and it’s gotten broken into while it’s empty, another moved all the way to another country and probably has to move back and another has a health issue. Yes, they all probably do have more money than me, but I am not dealing with the other problems that seem paramount to them.
Lee…I am so so sorry about what happened. Hang in there. I will say some good prayers for you tonight!
I fall victim to being envious of other frequently but I always find myself thinking the same thing you do…realizing that I wouldn’t trade my life for anything! I have an amazing family and really have no major things that I can complain about.
When I start to feel sorry for myself, I sometimes think of how things could get worse…and things can ALWAYS get worse…and I usually snap out of it because I realize what I’m worrying about isn’t really that big of a deal!
Yes! Things can always get worse. Always.
I’m realllllllly bad at turning my own attitude around. When I get in a funk, I am in it deep, and it usually takes me a while to dig myself out. Shopping usually helps though, haha.
I tend to feel sorry for myself quite often — to get out of those feelings I like to think about the things I DO like about my life. Honestly that really helps me to realize how fortunate I am and how much I do have.
I’ve heard some quote (that I can’t quite remember right now) but it is something about how “if you are going to be jealous of someone you have to be jealous of their entire life” — kind of like what you describe here — “you want to have her entire life to have what she has”.
Kelly, you shouldn’t want KK’s ass anyway– can you imagine how hard it must be to fit that thing in regular jeans?!? 🙂
I love this post– I can be pretty bad about feeling jealous of things that other people have…and ignoring all of the great things I have going on in my own life. No one’s life is perfect, and jealousy is natural of course…but it’s so nice to take the time to be grateful instead of envious, thankful instead of resentful.
HAHA! You’re right…buying jeans with that ass would be a big problem! Perfect…see now I am not envious of Kim K’s ass…all I needed was a little Anna wisdom!
I have a really hard time readjusting my attitude. It’s definitely something I have to work on, and constantly remind myself to stop thinking negatively when I’m upset about a situation.
I fall into the “everyone’s life is better than mine” trap too. It’s totally normal and you really never know what’s going on behind closed doors.
I feel like God always gives me a kick in the pants via a blog post/news article about the horrid conditions and lives in other countries. We are so blessed to live in a country where we don’t have to worry about basic survival.
Brilliant post kelly! I never find myself jealous of another person’s life, but when I’m down or hosting a pity party about my life I let myself wallow a little, than I reflect and reframe my thoughts…and look for a some blessing to focus on. This is a real effort for me because it was not they way I was brought up so I’m wired to look at the negative in situations.
I don’t typically compare myself to anyone else, or get jealous of the things they have. I get kind of jealous though when I think about the things I could have had but don’t. Does that make sense? When that happens I try and remind myself that I wouldn’t trade my experiences or my life now. Even if it is hard, and I should have gotten it together years ago. The fact is that I didn’t, and I can’t change that. All I can do is whatever it takes now to get where I want to be.
That makes perfect sense, Leah. Sometimes when I get annoyed with what someone else has I think who I am really annoyed with is myself for not be bolder about going after what I want most in my life.
LOVE this! So true. Sometimes I spend WAY too much time thinking about what I wish I had…or what I wish I didn’t have (like Crohn’s disease)
But honestly I have a great life, with a husband that I love more than anything in this world. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that, but I think that sometimes something bad has to happen to us in order to remember how good our lives really are..and that we really wouldn’t trade it for the world. I know I wouldn’t 🙂
ooo such an easy trap to fall into, I hear ya! When I’m feeling down or sorry for myself I usually call my husband or a friend and they talk me out of it! and I agree with anna, you don’t want kim k’s ass! 🙂
Loved reading this post – and the comments. It’s a relief to know we all feel this way sometimes! But my life is filled with so many beautiful people and experiences that are all my own, and for that, I wouldn’t change a thing.
xx
Ahh I love you and I love your attitude! I have never thought of it like that, actually. And you said it so well…MY life. I wouldn’t trade ANYTHING for someone else’s. xoxo
I am so wise. HA! A lot of times I think about what I’m jealous of and why. Sometimes it is a thing I can do something about. It’s all about either being proactive to get what I want or recognizing that it’s unrealistic or silly. Doesn’t always work obviously, but sometimes thinking about what I need to do to make something a reality kicks me into high gear. 🙂
Very wise! 🙂 Excited to see you on Saturday!!