Want to be someone else? Think again!

I have always longed to be that perfect someone else... That long-legged elegant woman with the hour-glass figure I saw at the airport... Or that curly-haired girl with the enviable complexion who crossed the road while I was waiting at the signal... I would even have exchanged lives with that yesteryear’s model who has a killer fashion sense... I always had this image while growing up that these were the markings of a perfect life, one that would be satisfactory no matter what. But some random happenings in the past few months have made me realise that my life is perfect as it is... I am perfect as I am... (Well, apart from the laziness, which I haven’t managed to find a cure for yet)

This tendency reminds me of an advertisement in which a chain of people aspire for what others had. It starts with a young guy staring with awe when a rich bald guy passes by in an impressive car; the rich guy buys his wife a diamond necklace, which a wife passing by the display looks at envyingly; this cycle of envy goes on, involving different people, and ultimately ends with the rich guy admiring the young guy’s curly crop of hair. You can check out the ad here.

Just goes to show how people want what others have. But you cannot have just that one trait that you admire, can you? You need to imagine living THAT life. What if the tall woman at the airport was a harried professional facing office politics? What if the girl with the perfect complexion had family problems? And did a keen sense of fashion help the model deal with an abusive boyfriend?

I think most of us, including me, tend to look at the superficial picture, admiring one trait and wishing we could have that and live that person’s life. But we do not go deeper, we do not get that our life is so much better when you take the whole picture into consideration. God may have been stingy when She determined how tall I would be, but She certainly endowed me with a family that makes me feel on top of the world. I may not have the skin tone to die for, but I am a confident, outgoing personality who can chatter away for hours on any given topic... (Except engineering, medicine, biology and the likes... ugh!) And even though I prefer comfort over trend and choose the same old drab colours and styles, my hubby loves and appreciates me, making me feel awesome whatever I am wearing... (Ask me why, and I would be stumped too!)

What I mean to highlight throughout the long ramble above is: nothing is perfect... When you compare your life with someone else, consider the ugly side of the story too. While the youngster envies the businessman with the awesome car, the former would give up his car in an instant if he would be able to run a hand through his curly hair instead of looking at his bald reflection everyday. There will always be something you don’t have, some trait you aspire for, some event you are awaiting in life. However, rather than wishing you were in a different life, admire your own life for what you have NOW. Because you know what? Someone, somewhere is wishing they could be in your situation, have what you have, and BE YOU! Realise this, and you will be able to make peace with what you have. I am about to, and I am sure I am going to be happy and content in every aspect of life from now on.