In houses, cars, jobs and relationships and many decisions in life, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. It just looks greener from a distance. Every patch of grass has holes, dead spots, rot and insects. The reason it looks greener is because you can’t see it up close.

I love old hot rod cars. I really really do. If Elaine would let me, I would have 25 right now. Hot rod cars can be a good metaphor for what I am talking about. Some look great from 20 feet and 5 feet while other look good at 20 feet and are a dog when you get up close. It is the same way in life when something looks better than what you currently have. The problem is you know what you have now but really can’t see up close what the better (greener) option looks like.

Not always, but many times, the best thing you can do is water and fertilize the grass you already have. Its much simpler, costs less and who knows, could be better in the long run.

There is a story from the 1800’s where a young man left his home farm to search the world for diamonds. After a few years, broke, sick and defeated, he came back home to his farm. On his mantle was rock he had found on his property some years before and thought it looked unique. A diamond expert friend of his was visiting his home and after dinner they went into the family room to sit and talk. The friend noticed the rock on the mantle and got up and walked over to it. He picked it up and said to his host, “do you know what this is?” Long story short, it was a large diamond and his farm at the time became the largest diamond mine in the world.

He looked out and thought if I could just go there (greener grass) I will find what I am looking for when all along, he lived on the largest diamond mine in the world.

The grass is not always greener (better) on the other side and sometimes we just need to stay on the side we are already on and water it. KT