I spend a lot of time on StumbleUpon. A lot. I like to think of it as research. My husband likes to think of it as a way for me to avoid housework. But he is oh so wrong.
I use YouTube as a way to avoid housework.
In my stumbling journey I came across this recipe for Salt and Vinegar Potatoes with Rosemary over at Noble Pig and gave it a go last week. It is an understatement to say THESE ARE THE BEST POTATOES EVER.
EVER!
My kids could not get enough of them and it will now become a staple in our food rotation.
Seriously, you need to try them.
You can thank me with wine.
p.s. The amazing picture above was taken by Cathy at Noble Pig. I'm hoping she invites me to dinner one day.
I get it, I really do. You see someone tweet out how they were invited to an awesome event and you think, "Well, why wasn't I invited?" Or someone was given a new wardrobe and you're all, "What the hell? I shop there ALL THE TIME. Why am I not getting new clothes?"
Why are they being contacted by PR agencies and I'm not?
How did they get such an awesome prize to give away?
Why did she get to pose with a hottie?
They got to go where?
How did they get that job?
I get it because I've been there—I've been jealous too.
Living a life where you are unhappy because other people are getting things and you're not is:
(a) Exhausting: You'll never be able to keep up with everyone. There will always be someone who is getting something you're not.
(b) Unfulfilling.
(c) Leaves you focused on the wrong thing.
So how do you stop focusing on what other people are doing or getting when it's out there all the time?
For me it was simple and it only took a few hours. I sat down and wrote a plan of action that focused on me—what I want and how I was going to set about reaching my goals.
I want to be paid to write.
I want to finish writing my book.
I want to grow Speed Skating Mom.
I don't want to grow it by reviewing products or hosting contests.
I want to write more about health/keeping our kids active/eating real food.
I want to encourage moms to try new things and make time for themselves.
It's a simple list that is completely focused on me with some goals already achieved and others I'm working towards. What it has done is changed my perspective. Instead of seeing what I don't have, I see what I want to achieve and focus on how I'm going to do it. Now when someone tweets how they are going to a super cool shopping event, I'm not jealous. Would the super cool shopping event have been fun? Sure. Would it help me attain any of my goals? Probably not.
Life is much better when you're working towards what you want instead of watching to see what everyone else has.
Set aside some time to really think about what you want from your life or your writing or your business. Write down those goals and take the focus off of everyone else and put it back onto you.
You may just find out your own grass is pretty lush.
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