Today’s post is one of gratitude – the “grass is green here too” kind. To save your time, let me tell you beforehand: there’s no life lesson here or anything like that; just a pleasant experience I thought I’d write about now, and maybe, reminisce about one day down the line.
I think most people, at least at some point, think about how, to use the cliché, the “grass is greener on the other side”. I’m no different. A few days ago, I was in one of those moods where I wished to be lounging on the lush green grass on the other side of the fence.
But it suddenly struck me that I was actually rolling in some really soft and fresh grass on this side itself. And that too without putting too much effort into mowing the lawn!
Now, even normally, if you’d ask me, I would almost always tell you that I know that I’ve been blessed in so many ways, that I’ve probably have had things I don’t deserve, and that in general, I’ve had a very good, and lucky, life, which I am very much grateful for.
But even with that knowledge, there isn’t always that sense of peace and acceptance with the way things are. It is one thing to know something, and another to feel it in your bones. I guess, in some corner of my heart, I’m just being greedy and wanting even more than what I have already been given.
But this time, it was different. After the reminder about how good it is on this side, I suddenly found myself very much at peace, even with all that I didn’t have.
I know there are things and experiences in life I’ll never have. And even though I usually say (to use another cliché), “Never say never!”, I’ll go out on a limb and say it this one time, because that’s how strongly I feel about it.
That kind of finality brings with itself a feeling of “longing” somewhere. I’m a very curious and inquisitive person. I like to know and experience things. Intimately. Here’s an example: As a single child, I’ll never know what having a sibling truly means. I may have cousins, I may have seen siblings interact amongst themselves up close, but that intimate, personal feeling of the relationship, of the dynamic, and what that would’ve meant to me, will always be missing.
So, for me, when I come across things that I can never, ever get to experience, it is a little bit of a downer. I know, it’s probably not a healthy or practical way to feel about these things, but it is how it is. The heart wants what the heart wants. Yeah, yeah, I know, I’m the undisputed “Cliché King”, aren’t I? 😀
BTW, if you’d like more detail, I’ve previously written about this feeling of wonder, of “longing”, if I can call it that, in one of my posts, titled, “The Lives That We’ll Never Live” (and hence, the title of this post). Head on over there to read more.
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Coming back to today’s post: So, that feeling was the trigger. But the reaction this time was different. Like I said, instead of feeling down, I actually felt quite at peace with the situation as is. The wish to experience the other side was still there, but the inability to do so didn’t bother me at all.
It was like I was offered two of my favorite flavors of ice-cream, but I could only eat one. And somebody made that choice for me, but I was totally okay with that – it didn’t matter which one they picked, because either way, I still got to have very tasty ice-cream! Don’t judge!! 😉
I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on what it was that made it different this time. Better acceptance of the status quo, maybe? Perhaps wisdom, brought on by the years. 😀
Or, just better realization of, and appreciation for, the things that have actually come my way. Just the fact that I have the time and resources to think about, write, and share this minor incident from my life, means I have a life that many people in our world would dream to have.
Nothing new in this realization though. It’s just that this time, it was enough. This time, I actually realized the power of the feeling of gratitude. I just hope I can hang on to it.
And more than that, I hope one day, I find myself in a situation where I’ve made enough of a positive change in the world, that I can justify these “investments” that have been made in my life, by an “angel investor”, pun intended. 🙂
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If you’ve read thus far, I’d request you to take a moment and reflect on all the good things in your life. Maybe say a word of thanks to anyone you think has played a positive role in it. If not for yourself, do it for them. I’m sure that those people (or God, if you believe in Him), would like that very much.
Till next time!
Stay happy, stay blessed..
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