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I spent the other evening with a group of 12-15 ladies in a party-type setting. Though I had a great time, and came home with a few great gifts, the insight I brought home with me is of far greater value…
While one of the ladies was presenting her gift item, she mentioned how much she loved fresh flowers. She continued to say that she always has fresh flowers in her home.
“Always? Fresh flowers? I wish I always had fresh flo…”
And then I stopped my thoughts before they could continue. And I changed my thoughts to: “Good for her! That’s wonderful that is what she likes. That is what she does.” It is easy to fall into those traps of what she has, what she does, who she is. Sometimes we forget what I have, what I do, who I am.
Don’t think you have to love interior-decorating because another lady has a beautiful living room. Perhaps that is her interest.
Don’t rush out to buy a brand new camera to take fantastic photos because a neighbor does. That is probably her hobby.
Don’t beat yourself down because you aren’t a great public speaker but, the lady up the street is. Perhaps that is one of her skills.
Don’t feel discouraged because you don’t even know which singing part you are singing, but the woman singing next to you has a well-trained voice. That is probably one of her talents.
I’m sure you get what I’m trying to say. It isn’t even about our talents, our gifts, our hobbies, or our interests. It is about who WE ARE. We each have “our thing.” Think of what you do have, what you do, who you are and not what you don’t or aren’t. I’m finding that contentment, and it makes all the difference.
Sure, I would love fresh flowers at my house every day. But guess what I thought of as I drove home?
Recently, in a random conversation, I was telling a friend that my husband and I go to bed together at the same time each night. It is extremely rare that one of us would go to bed without the other. It’s just what we do. We never made a conscious effort to do it; it just happened. And guess what my friend said? “I can’t believe you can do that each night. I’m jealous, I would love if my husband and I went to bed at the same time together. Lucky you.”
See friends, it’s kind of like fresh flowers…
QUESTION: Do you compare yourself to others?
CHALLENGE: If you start to compare yourself to someone else, stop and think about who you are. List 10 positive things that make you unique. Choose one or two of your talents or interests to focus on this week.
6 comments
Laurie Brooks says:
Apr 7, 2011
Submitted on 9-29-2010 at 11:53pm
Love it. Thanks Tiffany!
Mindy Thurston says:
Apr 7, 2011
Submitted on 9-29-2010 at 12:55pm
Awesome article!
April Perry says:
Apr 7, 2011
Submitted on 9-27-2010 at 11:34pm
Love it, Tiffany. It’s definitely a skill to learn to be happy for other people’s talents–and equally grateful for your own. I love these “healthy thinking” reminders!
Christina Bartholomew says:
Apr 7, 2011
Submitted on 9-26-2010 at 01:15pm
Well said.
Melanie Vilburn says:
Apr 7, 2011
Submitted on 9-26-2010 at 01:56am
It’d be nice if the Bible added “Thou shalt also not covet thy neighbors hobbies, skills, nor talents” to the 10th Commandment too!
Out of curiosity, I just read in Exodus 20:17 and I guess it must have never registered in my mind. At the end it does include, “…nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.” Without your article, I don’t think I ever would have recognized what people can covet goes a lot further than manservants and oxen!
Anna Jenkins says:
Apr 7, 2011
Submitted on 9-24-2010 at 11:37am
Tiffany, that was well said. So many of us struggle with the whole comparison thing, and forget what we already have. We could all stand to be a little more grateful for what we have been given and use it before we lose it.