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Writer's pictureHopeful Hippies

Comparison: The Thief of Happiness

"Comparison is the thief of happiness!"



I saw this quote somewhere along my miles and miles of travel in the last several weeks. I jotted it down on a scrap of paper and mulled it around in my head for a while. Not sure how it applied to me as I have always been one to do my own thing. I am not one to keep up with the Joneses, but I had seen the value in this quote.


Today, I participated in a P90X class at the gym. I was completely fine with not doing burpees (I hate them) and I was completely fine with no jumping. I was okay with modifying lunges. I was also fine hearing the distant voice of my PT warning me. I shooed the voice away thinking, “I know what I can and can’t do! Leave me alone.” I was fine not doing what everyone else was doing as this was actually my first P90X class since my “minor” spine surgery in June.


The problem is that this “minor” back surgery and, perhaps my stupidity, has caused my hip tendons to flare up. I am frustrated. I am learning to continue breathing out the frustration, but, sometimes, it is hard. And then I realized why this quote has meaning for me today!


Well, here goes. I’m not feeling amazingly happy today because I’m comparing myself with where I was planning to be. My goals this summer were hiking in Lake Tahoe, taking my first SUP yoga class on a lake and, wow…sitting comfortably. I had been sitting comfortably for months, but for the last 8 or so weeks..not so much. And, although, I have not YET hiked Lake Tahoe or done the SUP yoga, I am feeling accomplished in other areas. I am back to having full flexibility with my back. I can touch the ground with a forward fold and my Warrior 3 is looking pretty good.


But, most importantly, I can still talk myself out of a funk. That, I think, is a pretty big accomplishment as many people struggle with getting stuck with Negative Nelly chattering on their shoulder. I still am able to call upon positive self-talk and optimism. I still have a positive outlook most days. I will not let pessimism (or comparison) steal my peace or my happiness. Some days, I am holding, in a tug of war, but I will not be the one falling into the mud of comparison! My hips are strong and they will hold me up!



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