Skip to main content

Greener Side: A Walk In Other Shoes

So often through life, we focus our energies on ways to improve ourselves. And why shouldn't we? Self-potential is the mere goal every individual strives for in his or her existence. Whether it be professional, personal, spiritual, emotional, physcal, or mental, pushing the lever each and every day, to improve, to succeed, and to enjoy life, is our subconscious objective.

However, many times through this race called life we stumble. Trip. Wipe out. Fall. There are those times when you feel locked into a fight, and you are grossly underweight and over matched. A mere punching bag for the champion called Life who seems unconquerable, unmovable, and impossible. Not to mention, the times it cheats, and gains an unneeded advantage.

Yes, we all know those times.

Those are the times when we begin to look to others, and compare their experience with Life, their race called Life, with that of others. It's then that we see (Or so we think) that somewhere, somehow we are not prepared enough, or experienced enough, or tough enough for this race. It is then when we look at others and think about their success, and their lives, and wonder "how did they get there?" and "What am I doing wrong?"

The grass always looks greener on the other side.

The cars. The Clothes. The houses. The jobs. The smarts. The physique. The friends. The lifestyle. The success.

It's a mental trap so easily, and able to fall into. A trap that lures us in and keeps us in the abyss when our greatest enemy in adversity has mounted us, and our greatest ally in perseverance seems no where to be found. With the attitude and emotion of negativity and envy being the easiest option for human beings, the grass will always seem greener on the other side.

It will remain that way until, you are let in on the other, "greener" side.

For its only then, where you can imagine yourself in another's shoes.

If...they have shoes at all.

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...

The Pondering 10 - Yankees All-Decade Team for 2010s

I thought I would stay away from the "all-decade" shenanigans, but I got suckered in after all. Around here, end of year rankings, reviews, and reflections rule, so why not compose a list that embodies it all? And why not put together a list around my beloved Yankees? Especially in a decade in which they DID NOT win the World Series. Gasp! With all of that said, please see below not only my list of the Yankees All-Decade Team (because everyone can filter by position), but also by importance and contribution throughout the decade.

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/13/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. 25th Anniversary of 9/11 It is sort of hard to imagine that it has been twenty-five years since that awful day. It's been fifteen years since I've shared my experience as a High Schooler in Brooklyn, NY , and everything that came with that day (and the many to follow afterwards).  The world changed, and to this day, it still feels hard to grasp what happened (and what transpired with the health of so many afterwards). The lives lost, and the damage done. My son learned about 9/11, and his questions around it ignite some of that struggle with thought around it.  Daddy, how did they get the planes?  Did the building just, like, fall over?  On this 25th anniversary, it is even more concerning to see how the day is also politicized and sometimes weaponized in culture wars. I remember Americ...