Comparison is the Thief of Joy

Smile

​Love your life. Take pictures of everything. Tell people you love them. Initiate conversations with people you don’t know. Smile at everyone. Do some things that you’re afraid to do. So many of us die and nobody remembers a thing we did. Take your life and make it amazingly beautiful. Don’t waste it. And don’t get caught up in the trap of comparing yourself to others to see how you measure up. Always keep in mind that comparison is the thief of joy. When you compare yourself to others, you’ll find that there is always going to be someone who is smarter, wiser, more successful, has a more prestigious car, job title or a more luxurious home. Instead, focus on those things that bring you joy and happiness and be the best you that you can be. You’ll find that people will love you for doing so. So, what are you going to do today?

2 thoughts on “Comparison is the Thief of Joy

  1. I love it! I am learning new lessons everyday, and more than ever am I realizing how important it is to be authentic! Ever a people-pleaser, I have experience in the past of maybe not doing something that made me happy or not being totally forthcoming about something because of what I might perceive that other person wants is something different. Now the puzzle pieces are placing together because I am trying something new: living the way that makes me happy and standing up for myself in a way I haven’t before! Thanks for the regular reminders, and I wanted to let you know my glee and satisfaction in life has multiplied! Here’s to a great day, and a great life, everybody!

  2. Hi Ross,
    Interesting article that you wrote this week. It reminded me of suggestions “of life” offered by Chad Foster at one of my Professional Societies Convention a few years ago. He was a struggling tennis player. Foster mentioned to a man at a McDonald’s parking lot that he was going to buy breakfast, as he had enough money to eat and buy gas to get back home if failed to win any money at a tennis tournament later on that day! He did not realize that the man was the owner of the restaurant! The owner was an avid tennis player, bought Foster his breakfast and gave him a few free food coupons to use at a later date! Things did not go well at the tennis court and soon afterwards retired from being a pro tennis player.
    The McDonald’s store owner called upon Foster at a later date to help him design a tennis court for his home! The start up of a new career involving tennis courts! The McDonald’s man later on asked him about installing a tennis court type of material in his play yard at the restaurant, as the bark chips were creating a mess inside the restaurant when the kid’s came if from play. Craig was worried about the surface being so hard, he knew a person that shredded tires, he used the shredded tires with the paving material to make a softer surface. The regional rep. for McDonald’s loved the paving material, he contacted Foster to resurface every play yard in his region, eventually every McDonald’s in the country! Foster purchased shredding equipment for used tires. People paid him to take their old tires, he then used the tires for various projects such as tennis courts, running tracks, etc. His company was a success and business was great!

    Shortly afterwards, he was approached by someone to buy his business, accepted the offer, instant multi million dollar profit! Now, a very rich fairly young man, he was trying to figure out what he was going to do with his life. He was an avid fly fisherman, was out west somewhere fly fishing for trout., while pondering his future. He started up a conversation with another fisherman. Foster shared his life story with the stranger. The other fisherman asked what his furture plans/dreams were. Foster said that he would really like to be a TV host on a fly fishing show. The other fisherman was a friend of a producer at ESPN. He told his friend about this young, interesting and enthusiastic guy he met while fly fishing!
    Foster was not a professional fisherman, never won a fishing contest, but loved fly fishing! He had an interview with ESPN. The producer called the “other fisherman” who recommended that Foster be considered for the new fly fishing show that was being planned. The producer was impressed with Foster’s passion of fly fishing, but concerned that he was not a pro, never won any fishing tournaments, never had any tv experience, etc. The other fisherman said because of Foster’s love of the sport and his ability to speak/relate to a complete stranger, such as himself, that people would respond to him and like him, and he should be given a chance. ESPN gave him and two or three others a “tryout”, viewers loved Foster, was chosen to be the new host!

    Your message this week reminded me of Craig Foster and his unique life story, based on a simple start up conversation at a McDonald’s restaurant with a complete stranger. I often time wonder how Foster’s life would have been different if Foster did not start up a conversation with a complete stranger that day…a conversation that made a huge difference for his future success!

    Snow up here melted one week ago. Was very dry and wild fires were taking place. Yesterday it snowed again, about 3 inches. Our beautiful spring flowers were in bloom and now all wilted!

    My wife (Kathy) and I will be heading down to Texas (Lake Jackson) in June. We will help with the 3 grand kids once they are out of school. The two older girls are in a talented and gifted camp in Sugarland (south of Houston) for two weeks, I will be in the car pool for 7 of the 10 days. I have two red snapper fishing trips scheduled, my son will join me on one of the trips. Our grandson is too young to go, the two girls would find the 12 hour trip to be too long, especially with the need to get up early to drive to Galveston in addition to getting the fish cleaned and the drive back home once returning to shore.

    My Chicago White Sox are in Houston June 19th – 21st for 3 games with the Astros. Our son (Brian) has season tickets that he share with 3-4 other people. We have tickets for 1/2 of the he Astros-White Sox games, and should be fun!

    Hope this finds you and your family well. Please tell Lorraine that I said hi to her, and wishing her the best as well.

    Bye,
    Don Zielke

    p.s. If you have any trouble sleeping at night, save this e-mail, it may solve your problem!

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