 |
| Photo Credit |
This is the first thought that came into my head when I read the word. Immediately.
Mainly, because it's so true.
It's so easy to look at what others have and start to become envious. Dare I say...jealous. Especially when everyone and my mom has a Facebook account, and you know 90% (or some other statistically correct number that I didn't make up) of people are only posting the good stuff.
So it's easy to start feeling down on yourself when you come home with a filthy kid that needs a bath, laundry to do right away, step in cat puke in the meanwhile, and a host of other things go wrong in your evening. (For real: my Monday night) Then you see Sally Smith and John Jones living it up on a beach somewhere, and you think "whhhhhyyyyy me?"
But you know what? My life is pretty great already. I'm betting yours is too.
When I first started really getting into running, the comparison bug started rearing it's little head. I'm talking like after my first 5k, while training for my first half marathon. Like when I realized that pace = finishing time, and sometimes those finishing times are considered "good" depending on your age and experience.
Then I joined a running group, and a Ragnar team, and this comparison bone started to get even bigger. Honestly? It took me awhile to knock it off.
I still have to remind myself that everyone runs at different paces, and that everyone is capable of different things. Yes, I'm training for a full marathon. No, I do not need to do an ultra marathon to be just as cool as so and so. And just because I'm training for a full does not mean that I'm better than someone else. That I can enjoy my own accomplishments and only compete with myself. Because really...
Don't you think?
What comes to mind when you think of the word "Comparison"? Link up and tell us about it!
You are SO right on this one!! It is SUPER easy to compare yourself to others, but it is absolutely the least helpful thing in the world to do! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnd why do we do it? Crazy.
DeleteOne thing I really liked about Ragnar was that there was no comparing. Every team was on a different schedule and we didn't care about our pacing - just did our best.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, that part was great! My issue there was comparing myself to my actual team members, most of whom were more seasoned runners than myself.
DeleteI know, so easy to fall into this. I am a shorter distance specialist - I've never been able to run the times predicted by the running calculators for half or full marathons. And I like competing in shorter events because I can race more frequently. I still find myself trying to eliminate the word "just" from my vocabulary when I talk about my racing plans. Lauren Fleshman did a nice piece on the 5K a while back. I was glad to see that.
ReplyDeleteI do that too! "I'm 'just' running the 10k" or a half even! Uhm, we're running, regardless. Better than sitting on the couch!
DeleteThere is no "just" a 5K or 10K. Simply ask your non-running friends and enjoy how amazed they are with your accomplishments!
ReplyDeleteVery true! To them, I am super woman!
DeleteI love your Monday night! It sounds so typical. Social media is so skewed to the good side and that really bothers me. I think it's natural to play the comparison game, but we certainly shouldn't get stuck there. I'm training for my first marathon. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI try to be as "real" as possible with social media, but I don't ever want to come off too negative or complaining. It's all about balance I guess. Good luck on your first full as well!
DeleteDitto to what you responded to HoHo above. I think posting negative things often comes across as whining, so double-edged sword. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I ran my first half and full and BQ before I blogged or read any kind of social media so I had no idea what "good" was and I felt absolutely zero pressure on me from anyone. Looking back that was really nice.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy! It's like this whole other kind of pressure to do well. I actually signed up for another full next May, but I don't think I'm going to put anything out there on FB about it. My family knows, and that's really all that's necessary. Well, and anyone that reads my blog I guess!
DeleteThat quote is the first thing I thought, too! Instead of comparing myself to others, and becoming envious of what they have or what they're doing (oh, Facebook!) I try and remember to count my blessings.
ReplyDeleteI fall victim of the "what they're doing" envy. Like all my friends that don't have kids that can just take off on a moments notice. But I am pretty blessed, and need to remember that!
DeleteThe world would be a very boring place indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!