“The grass is always greener on the other side…”

When you’re driving about our magnificent countryside, it’s easy to spot the wishful thinkers. At practically every farm or paddock you drive past, you will see cows, horses or sheep (even the occasional goat) with their heads shoved through or under the fence. Despite the large expanse of pasture stretched out behind them, the animals are desperate to nibble the tuft of weeds on the other side of the fence. I suppose the thinking is, “If they’ve put a fence up to keep us out then this must be prime tucker!” Or, it could be as simple as, “Ooh, num-nums.” I’m not an expert on these things, so I’m taking an educated guess.

Unfortunately, the reality is that the pasture behind them is grown specifically for the animals and is far more nutritious for them. (The only exception would be in a drought when the paddock is bare, but that doesn’t suit the point I’m making so let’s all pretend it doesn’t count.) It’s also a dangerous practice. Too often these animals find themselves on the wrong side – the road side. Then it’s time to play dodge-the-cars.

Sometimes, in these encounters, the humans escape with just a damaged car and no injury, but sometimes the consequences are deadly. A friend of mine was killed when her car hit a cow. For the animals, however, it’s practically always lethal. One has to ask, “Were  those few mouthfuls of illicit green grass worth all that?”

“Why the bucolic ruminations?” I hear you ask. Well, we humans have the same propensity to think that the grass has got to be greener on the other side of our fence. We look at other people’s lives – their jobs, their wealth, their families, their health – and we think, “I wish my life was like that. I wish I had what they’ve got.”

I was at the hospital yesterday for my monthly visit with Dr P and the girls. I plonked myself into a nice recliner in the chemo room and chatted to the other two ladies there. They were both hooked up to the IV, getting a dose of weed-killer (chemo to the uninitiated). When they saw that all I was having was a quick jab in the gut, one of them said, “I wish I could have what she’s got.” The nurse smiled at me, then turned to the lady and said, “Oh no, you don’t.”

Why? Was it because my injection has worse effects than chemo? No. It was because when the other patient’s chemo and any other treatment is finished, she will recover her health and go on with her life. She will recover. I will be on these injections indefinitely with, possibly, chemo to look forward to later and there will be no recovery. (Unless the boffins finally find the cure before I kick the bucket). My grass looked greener, but her pasture was actually a better place to be in.

I’m not telling you this in a pathetic ploy for your sympathy. The little incident reminded me of the folly of thinking like a sheep. The grass may look greener but it often isn’t, and it’s usually not wise to pursue it. Please note: This isn’t aimed at people in bad situations who need to grasp any opportunity they can to get out of there. (Similar to the drought scenario I mentioned earlier.) I’m talking about the great majority of us who waste our time wishing and hoping and dreaming of being someone else, with someone else’s wealth, health, looks and  goods. Perhaps we need to spend more time appreciating and enjoying the people who love us, and the life we’re living, now.