Green Grass

The grass on my side of the fence, i've decided, is green. Yep, green. i know how the saying goes. And i think we all feel like our side has only brown grass, but it's never really true.

I have green grass on my side.

Sure, i have some spots of yellow-green and even some brown spots, but i am working on them. (Shhhhh...don't tell my dad i have brown spots in my grass. he would be so disappointed. He takes his grass very seriously. ;) ) I am raking up the dead grass, putting down grass seed, watering, checking on it every now and then. it will grow back. i am sure of it. And if not, there is always sod. :) But i have a ton...no. not just a ton, but a ton (times a thousand) reasons why my grass is green. I have been angry for the last couple of weeks and i haven't see the green on my side. I have been upset about things i cant presently change. I have seen the spots of green in my neighbors yards and been jealous, and envious, and mad that they get to have those spots of green and i don't. what i failed to see is that their yard had spots that aren't so bright as well. maybe they were just in the back yard...i don't know.

I have been talking to three good friends from high school and college (you know who you are) and as i have been listening to them point out the spots of brown in their yards i have had the rare opportunity to look down at the grass that i am standing in. And to my utter shock, it is green. and as i expand my gaze there are some pretty bright, amazingly green patches.

I am standing in green grass. i know i keep saying it, but i am trying to make a point (maybe just to myself).

I am so blessed in my life. So incredibly blessed. Far too often i don't count my blessings but the blades of brown grass that i am constantly having to rake up. And it's selfish, and self defeating.

I know its not November yet, or Thanksgiving time, but i have a lot of things to be thankful for. Here is a list of just a few. (Afterall, i have a yard full green. I am only listing a few of the blades of green grass)

• I have incredible friends all over. from all times in my life. and they love me, and help me get through my issues.
• I have a job, in a time when they are not the easiest to come by (trust me, i hear about it all day at work)
• Although i don't have a house (which i would love), i don't have to pay for things like a plumber when my toilet brakes. i don't have to worry about a mortgage that is hanging over me for the next 30 or so years (not yet) :)
• i have a family to go home to in Indiana who love me and are always happy to have me home.
• I live near a temple where i can feel the Spirit and be reminded of who i am and what is really important in life.
• I am healthy. I am happy to report my 6 week long cough is gone. (thank you!)
• I have money to pay for things. Not lots of extras, but enough to get by.
• I had enough good sense to not marry someone who I was in love with (who wanted to marry me) that would have made me give up all of the things that i hold the most dear. and that i have enough good sense to rid my life of people who tempt me to compromise my standards.
• That enough though i am not usually happy about being single, there are some great benefits that come with it...like, i can spend my money how i want. i can come and go as i please. i can just disappear for a weekend and meet and flirt with new people and not worry about it (which i really did). I can travel without having to ask anyone about it. i can can pick up and move to a new state if i want to, and i don't need permission from anyone, or have to worry about who else's life it will disrupt.

Yeah. So my grass is really green. Do you see it? i can see it! And i hope that i spend more time looking at my own yard, then comparing it to my neighbors'.