“Do not spoil what you have be desiring what you don’t. Remember what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
Happy Wednesday readers. It’s been pretty gloomy and foggy by me the last few days and I can tell it’s put a damper on everyone’s mood. What has not put a damper on my mood is the fact that I bought a new car. Finally. My ’91 Saturn definitely saw better days (the brakes were shot [again- it was the 3rd time they went out in the last year] and the exhaust pipe to the muffler rusted apart and it made a loud noise when I was driving [so loud that a doucebag cop pulled me over- it wasn’t that loud- and normally I really like cops]) so after some looking around I got a new baby- a very lightly used Ford Edge. This is also a sign of my first big-girl move. My mother is thrilled that I know have a reliable vehicle; my father won’t find out til I go home for Christmas because he wanted me to keep repairing the Saturn.
Anyway, enough about me, let’s talk about this quote. I think I found this quote within the last year on someone’s Facebook. It was one of those tumblr images or very similar to it. And I knew that I just had to save this quote because no matter where you are in life it is absolutely relevant.
We are always desiring a new car or a new house or a promotion or a signifcant other and so on and so forth. You get it. The sad truth I’ve come to realize about humans is that we always want more. I look at myself now and I say, “I want to get a promotion” or “I’m ready to get engaged” and so on and waiting on the result of these decisions can get discouraging because they aren’t in my control. What I’ve also realized is that focusing on what I have right now makes me a lot happier than focusing on something I have no control over.
Now, I am in no way saying not to have dreams. Dreams are what are going to move us forward. I am making plans to start my own business with my best friend as well as get my production company farther off the ground. A desire and a dream are different. A dream is something that you can actually work towards and accomplish; something that you have control over- a desire is dependant on someone else. Nothing ruins happiness like wanting more.
So here’s my test to not only my readers but to myself: to embrace what I have right now and not take anything for granted. Instead of focusing only on getting a second interview I can focus on the fact that I have a really good paying job with benefits at a young age where there are people who don’t even have jobs right now. Additionally, I can focus on the fact that I’ve been in a really long, committed relationship and live with my boyfriend. Right now I don’t have to worry about everything I’m sure I’ll need to focus on when I do get married. I can go out and have fun with my girlfriends. The point I’m trying to get across is that there is always a bright side. I don’t have to worry about getting a job or finding someone hot to go home with.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having desires, but you shouldn’t let them weigh on you or negatively affect you. There are crappy parts to life- but there are also some really great parts. If you look on the positive side, your life really isn’t as bad as you think it is.
xoxo