\u82f1\u6587\u89e3\u8aad\u7df4\u7fd2\u3068\u3057\u3066\u82f1\u8a9e\u306e\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\u30b9\u304b\u3089\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u306b\u7ffb\u8a33\u3055\u308c\u305f\u8a18\u4e8b\u3092\u3088\u304f\u8aad\u3093\u3067\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f\u3053\u306e\u30b3\u30fc\u30ca\u30fc\u3067\u306f\u305d\u3093\u306a\u4e16\u754c\u306e\u9762\u767d\u3044\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\u30b9\u3068\u305d\u306e\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u8a33\u3092\u30d4\u30c3\u30af\u30a2\u30c3\u30d7\u3057\u3066\u3054\u7d39\u4ecb\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002\u30ea\u30fc\u30c7\u30a3\u30f3\u30b0\u3084\u5916\u56fd\u4eba\u306b\u8a71\u3057\u304b\u3051\u308b\u6642\u306b\u3082\u3001\u7dca\u5f35\u3092\u307b\u3050\u3057\u3066\u3001\u4f1a\u8a71\u306e\u304d\u3063\u304b\u3051\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3044\u304b\u304c\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This common saying, which describes a feeling of inadequacy when comparing yourself to someone else, doesn\u2019t usually refer to actual foliage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, however, that saying could apply to my life more literally, as I find myself engaged in what I\u2019m privately referring to as The Great Tomato Race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how this battle began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early in the spring, I was planting some tomato seeds in a large pot when my daughter and some of her neighborhood friends decided they wanted to help. They moved in a frenzy of excitement, and suddenly half of the packet of seeds had been planted in a single pot. At the time, I figured many seeds wouldn\u2019t sprout, so I wasn\u2019t too worried about overcrowding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, I was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A couple of weeks later, dozens of seeds started to sprout and I was left with far too many burgeoning tomato plants. I bought another large pot and transferred a few plants there, but that hardly made a dent in the overcrowding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I started to ask my neighbors if they were interested in rescuing a handful of my fast-growing seedlings. Before long, our street was practically lined with tomato plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A part of me is proud of the fact that all these lovely plants came from seeds I planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope the plants grow to be lush and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just not as lush or as healthy as mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because now, at least in my mind, the neighborhood is in a fierce competition to see who can produce the best tomatoes. The other day, I caught myself scoffing at the efforts of the neighbor across the street, whose tomato plant is looking a touch yellow and thin. On the other hand, I regularly find myself gazing with envy at the robust stems and bushy leaves on the plants belonging to my neighbor down the street. I\u2019m getting concerned that his plants might start flowering or, even worse, start producing tomatoes before mine do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He even had the nerve to give me some pointers to help them grow faster. Grudgingly, I put his tips into practice and, unfortunately, he was right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I suppose this is a good time to remind myself of another saying: \u201cComparison is the thief of joy.\u201d Essentially, it means that if you spend all your time comparing your life to someone else\u2019s, you\u2019ll forget to appreciate what you do have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So even if my neighbor spends his summer eating delicious tomatoes to his heart\u2019s content, I\u2019ll do my best to be grateful for whatever my plants give me. Even if they\u2019re not as juicy or flavorful as his.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\u300c\u96a3\u306e\u829d\u751f\u306f\u9752\u3044\u300d\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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