by The Sparrow

Created on: March 12, 2008   Last Updated: June 14, 2008

We have all heard the expression, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence". I am sure you have also heard the expression that "the grass is always greener over the septic tank", as well. What does it mean? Plainly, it means we always think we want what we do not have. We think that what everybody else has is better than what we have. It may be a forewarning, that the grass, is, greener over the septic tank. I wonder if that is why grass and envy are considered to be the same color? As in the expression, "He was green with envy".

I know you have met Envy before, at least a time or two, I think we may all have. It is not a good feeling, it makes us dissatisfied. One reason, the goods in this world are not dispursed evenly, although that is what causes man to strive to do better. Also, no two people look the same, unless they are identical twins. Therefore physical attributes are not dispursed equally. That is what makes us unique. Whatever we have, we are to take it and enhance it to the best of our ability.

Anyone can feel envy.This may be a bit extreme, but, take, for instance, the man who is gainfully employed. He is a member of the daily grind. He seems to have all his needs met and then some. He thinks he is satisfied. Then one day, he sees a homeless man on the streets and finds himself envying the free and simple life. Then there may be the beauty queen, who envys her neighbor for her better academic performance. It doesn't seem to matter who we are or what we have, we are always looking at the other side of the fence. Plainly, there are few, if any who can have it all.

Therefore, I have concluded,that if my neighbors grass looks greener, It is just because I am looking in and not looking out. Otherwise I would be looking out thinking the grass over there in my yard looked greener. It is just a matter of perspective, or where you are standing at the time. It is much easier to stand and look at my neighbors grass rather than to tend it, irrigate it, fertilize it, and mow it. If I was in that yard where the grass appeared to be so much greener, I might be quickly looking for a gate to get back out of.

Envy, means you wish you had one like theirs. Covet, is just a step up from that. It means, you wish you had "theirs". So, be careful. There is a pretty thin line there. Envy can make you unhappy, but it seems to be a human characteristic. We should be happy with what we have and how things are, except if nothing changes, nothing changes. If you use envy to your advantage, that is a different story. Do not let envy frustrate you and depress you. Let it instead motivate you. Let it motivate you to strive for some changes in your own life. Strive to incorporate some of the things you see and appreciate, by your efforts, into your own life. Anything worth having, is worth working for. There are some things that cannot be changed, but should be accepted and appreciated as our own. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We should strive to improve the things we can, accept the things we can not,
and realize the difference.

It does not hurt to ask your neighbor a few questions either. Such as, "How did you get your grass so green?".Compliment him on what he has accomplished. You may learn he works from sun-up to sun down on it. You may learn a few ways to "green-up" your own grass, or rather, your own life. Remember, no matter how green your grass is, it may seem to appear greener on the other side of the fence. A word to the wise, though, the grass really is greener.....over the septic tank.

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