Grass is always greener on the other side
Grass is always greener on the other side
The quest and wish to be better is what differentiates human beings from the rest. There is a tendency to view existing situation lacking something. Before India became a hub for outsourcing, people attempted to look at foreign countries as potential opportunity for a better life and growth.
Even today, when the country is growing at a steady pace and world wants to come to India, many consider going abroad and settling there. Factors such as a cleaner environment, less red-tapism along with difference in exchange rate are some of the many reasons that drive millions of Indians to go abroad. The grass seems to be greener on the side. However, if one delves deeper, there are a number of things which are forgotten in the lure of getting something better.
In India, the role played by society is much larger than in the western or other foreign nations. Hence, the help or assistance that one can get from peers or friends in one’s country is completely missing and people have to fend for themselves atleast initially if any possible issues arise. Loneliness can be one of the major problems that one may come across when living in a foreign land.
Besides this, there are massive cultural differences which one needs to not only respect but also be tolerant of. There have been a number of incidents which have happened as a result of cultural differences leading to racial discrimination. Another difference which can be a point of clash are different religious practices. While India is a secular and democratic country, one cannot enjoy the same kind of freedom in countries abroad.
The cost of living is also quite high vis-à-vis India which is only understood when people start staying in those countries. Also, there is a tremendous difference in healthcare services in India and countries such as the US and UK. While insurance is not mandatory in India, one of the first and foremost paperwork that needs to be completed is getting a health insurance before one moves abroad. Language is another barrier that people need to deal with as not every country has majority of people English speaking. Migrant labours may not be well versed with even basic English.
Living in a foreign nation is surely an enriching and different experience. However, those who have stayed would agree that the apparent good things also bring along harsh environment that one needs to cope up with in order to survive and grow in an unfamiliar land. It is not easy to leave the safe shore and sail on unchartered waters.
Discussion
- Grass is always greener on the other side -Rishika Jalan (03/27/14)
Grass is always greener on the other side
It always looks better on the other side right? All the other people around you seem to have a better life than yours, nearly a perfect one. Whether it is your friend’s new car, your neighbor’s new furniture, your boss’s apartment, your colleague’s job or any such thing under the roof. We all always find others life to be perfect and something missing in ours which cannot be covered. We all want to be as successful as someone else, as popular as possible and also as talented as one could be. This feeling and insecurity is a part of us.
It is a part of our being to be better than the other 6 billion people in all the ways possible. But what we need to know and keep in mind is that the person who you want to become might not have a perfect life either. This is a myth which everyone should overcome that the grass is not always green on the other side.
We all are in some or the other way dissatisfied with our lives. None of us are entirely satisfied with what we have, whether in our personal lives or professional. But what we fail to realize and understand is that what we have are the greatest things which another could not have. We fail to realize the importance and worth of people and things we have in our life. Only once we lose them, we understand their true value.
Taking things for granted
Family, a roof above the head, crazy friends, food in the refrigerator these are all the things which we don’t value and take for granted. But the day one of these is missing in our lives we realize how lucky we are to possess them. We require immense emotional stability to be happy with what we have in our life and to not envy others by wanting to lead their lives.
People, who have a permanent smile on their face, not necessarily have everything in the world. But what makes them move on happy in life is the feeling of contentment with what they have. They know and appreciate their talents and possessions and are well satisfied with that have. All of us are blessed with certain talents and all we need to do is find that out and nurture it.
Desires are more appealing than reality
Sometimes, we all dream and desire to own a sports car or have a super model as a girl friend. But when in real we do get what we dream we often feel empty and dissatisfied. We don’t feel content by having what we have been longing for. The rose colored objects show their real sides once you get close to them.
The key to a happy and peaceful life is to be content with what you have and not desire to be someone else. We all should aim high and work hard to make out lives better but should not have the desire to be in someone else’s position. We should value what we have by living the present life happily and not wishing it away for a future which might not give us what we actually want form it.
