Why the Grass is Never Greener for the Devil You Know
Sitting having an early morning coffee in a café in Lisbon I can’t help but notice a group of people laughing and enjoying the winter sun. Life seems ideal here, even perfect, I find it challenging to not fall in love with the romance of this city. My heart whispers, ‘This could be your life’ and then my mind counteracts with ‘Richard, the grass is never greener on the other side.’ Suddenly the laughter of the people fades and the wind chills the warmth of the sun.
As my listening changes I now only hear the waiter shouting orders at the kitchen and notice a beggar walking past asking for money. I’ve heard the saying, ‘The grass is never greener on the other side’ used in all situations from moving countries to romance to work; at times its altered to, ‘Rather the Devil you know’. I now know why these sayings have such staying power
There is no place, person or anything outside of ourselves that will deliver greener grass. It will be greener where and when we choose to water it. Have we perhaps forgotten the romance in our own lives or stopped listening to the laughter of our dreams? What is so wrong with the lives we have that it’s a challenge to tap into the warmth of our sun? The more I pondered on this the more I realised that it’s what we choose to listen and tune into that provides the water for our grass.
Choice is our greatest gift however; it hides from us when we believe we have none and yet spoils us when we look for it. I’ve seen miracles happen to people who actively seek choice; from addicts finding recovery to once labelled ‘doomed’ marriages heal. The construction of our life relies on our daily choices. How will you know if you’re standing in your sun or in your shade? Start by asking yourself what you habitually listen to. Is it opportunity that shouts, ‘Yes!’ or the opposition that screams, ‘Yes, BUT’?
And, which will you listen to? Choose wisely because what you listen to today will water your grass tomorrow.
PS: … and don’t listen to the Devil you think you know because he really has nothing new to say!
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