The Lesson that I have learned…..

As an only child, I never knew what it was like to compete for things at home. No sibling rivalry, no need to compete for my parents attention or love, etc. As an adult, I never found it necessary to compete, either. Yes, you have to compete for spots on athletic teams or for a job, but I am referring to competing with others to prove your self-worth. When I would get upset that someone scored higher than I did on a test, if someone made a better grade, or if some girl stole my boyfriend, my parents would tell me something that would always stick with me. They would say… “There will always be someone that looks better than you, that is smarter than you are, and more successful than you are….Just be the best at what you can be and stop comparing yourself with other people”. It sounds a little like “tough love”, but it is so true. While you are looking in the mirror hating your nose, someone else is looking at you wanting your nose. While you are sitting around wishing that you had a bigger house or car, someone else is looking at you wanting your house or your car. It is this uniqueness that should drive us closer rather than divide us. I believe that God gave us unique qualities, appearances, and gifts to add a splash of color on the Earth. The things that you may find difficult, there is someone else who excels at that very thing, and they could be a help to you.  Instead of embracing and seeing what a blessing being unique is, we somehow see it has a way to judge ourselves. There is no room for jealousy or competition when you are working on being the best person that you can be.

 When you feel that “envy monster” tugging at you the next time someone accomplishes something you wish you could have, just remember that there is no one just like you. Isn’t it awesome to know that no one looks just like you or has the exact qualities that you have? God created you uniquely and for HIS purpose. Whatever that purpose may be, He could only use YOU to do it. Some find competition helpful, it motivates them. I find it unnecessary. Decide what the best idea of YOU is and compete with that.

So, the lesson that I hope that my kids will learn is that there is no need to compare yourself to others. There is no one better or more valuable than you are. We are all equals on this Earth, despite what society’s standards of measure are. If another person is better at one particular thing, then you are probably better at another. Be proud of the person that you are, celebrate the accomplishments of others, and never feel a need to compare yourself to another person. When you look closely, you will see that every person has faults, flaws, and inadequacies. Work on becoming the best YOU that you can be. Find your purpose and your gift and spend your life perfecting it…simple as that.