The Grass is Not Greener
I made the mistake of scrolling through LinkedIn recently and came across a podcaster I follow, who launched her show a few months before I did.
The difference is, she hasn’t taken breaks like I have.
(Yes, it’s been a while since my last podcast season. I took a break to support my family as my dad was sick with cancer and died in April. And since then it’s been grieving, catching up on delayed work, and now I’m in my busy season with my college admission consulting business.)
Anyways, this podcaster shared how she landed an A-List interviewee recently.
Also, she frequently posts about how she travels the country speaking at A-List organizations and attending many special events that recognize Highly Successful Media People.
After reading her posts, I was amazed at all she had accomplished and felt … behind.
I’m in my own little corner of the world, juggling my work and raising two young children with a Very Busy Spouse who does not have a flexible job.
Yes, I have my dream career of admission coaching, blogging and podcasting, yet it seems like it could be really interesting to add public speaking to my portfolio. However, I don’t think I could travel to speak like the podcaster I follow. There are just too many childcare logistics to figure out right now. (We don’t have a nanny to cover the odd hours involved with parenting, and my spouse does not have flexibility or bandwidth to pick up the extra childcare.)
To be honest, I was a bit frustrated that I couldn’t do everything I wanted to with my career (mainly travel.)
But today I was listening to the podcaster I follow, and she shared about how it’s hard for her to leave her children when she travels, and how she has to explain to them why Mommy’s often leaving.
I realize she’s also making sacrifices, especially time with her family and children.
I also know it’s not easy to travel - a friend regularly travels internationally for work and tells me it’s brutal.
Another friend reminded me that 10 years from now, things will look very different with my parenting responsibilities.
My 82-year old mom recently told me to enjoy the time with my children. Once they start school, time flies — and life is short.
It was a good reminder to be grateful for what I have. And stop comparing my real life to the highlight reels of others.
I got off of Instagram to avoid the comparison trap, and it’s probably time for me to get off of LinkedIn.
Or who knows, maybe I’ll reach out to the podcaster I follow — and ask her to mentor me.
How do you avoid the comparison trap? Has anything good ever come out of your comparisons? Have you ever reached out to a stranger and successfully had him/her mentor you?
