Is the grass greener on the other side?

I have wanted to write about this for a long time but today I got the push.

So many people feel the grass is always greener on the other side but is it so?

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I remember when I was much younger I felt anyone who managed to travel overseas has made it in life. I am a Nigerian, and truly the economy here is nothing to write home about, but then as I started to grow older I began to see that to be successful in life, one must put in the effort, be determined, and be consistent.

When my uncle left the country, everybody felt he would no longer have problems(financially) and even my relatives started to depend primarily on him even on things they could afford, after all, what are the perks of having a relative oversea?

Whenever he tells them he has so many financial challenges they begin to bad mouth him, saying he is stingy and doesn't want to help, he does his best to assist us here, but most of my relatives feel his best isn't enough.

The narrative changed when a cousin of mine was able to secure his visa too and finally left, before leaving he promised to do "heaven and earth" when he gets there but is that the case today? No oooooh. We hardly hear from him, whenever he calls home too, he starts to narrate how life isn't a bed of roses there and how hard he had to work to make ends meet, initially, he thinks leaving the country automatically makes him a millionaire, (i laugh in Swahili) some times he keeps saying there's money there, but one needs to put in more effort than you would in your motherland, running shifts, doing menial jobs (caregivers, washing of plates, and the likes) something he might find 'downgrading' here in his country for his caliber of person.

I have cousins too who are still in the country and still doing good for themselves, though life here is hard, they own their store, and some still work in a reputable firm, yet they still long to leave the country not realizing there's no place like home, no struggling to be a citizen and no stress of renewing a visa.

I am not saying leaving for greener pastures is bad oh, but are you ready to put in more effort?

Let me not digress from the topic, the point is the grass isn't always greener on the other side, I guess it is greener where you water the ground.

Using myself as a case study, I remember yearning to work in a particular firm, simply because I felt where I worked wasn't giving me the financial Independence I needed, eventually, my friend who worked there started to look for another job though she earned thrice as mine, her job was demanding, very demanding at that, she would work overtime almost all the time, coming home feeling extremely exhausted. Then I realize I could earn more if I was willing to water my ground, aside from the work I do, I combined sewing over the weekends and turning my colleagues into my client, how? I would make nice outfits for myself and rock them to work, many of them began loving my dress sense and started asking who my designer was and I told them I was, that way they ask me to make similar outfits for them and I started earning too. I make handmade brooches too and package them neatly for sale, I sell them to family, friends, and colleagues, and receive an order every week, even if I am not yet where I want to be financially, for a fact, I am not where I was and that's growth. and today I have people who wish to be like me, not knowing the effort, and determination I am putting into it.

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(image is mine, the outfit made by me including the rose brooch)

My handmade brooch photo

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So many people have the same mindset when it comes to blogging on the hive. They want to start gaining like others who have worked so hard for it but are not ready to put in the work, they envy them and set their expectations so high only left with disappointments when their expectations aren't met. What becomes their outcome? They eventually leave the hive feeling unloved.

If I tell you that my devices crashed last week would you believe it? You can read about it here. A terrible week
Simply because I am still active on the hive, well because I know the importance of being active, I borrowed my niece's phone to regularly blog, it is like me watering my grass, I am just two months old on here so I know how important engaging, interacting and posting means to me on the blockchain, I am not just sitting wishing my grass was green, I am working to make my grass greener.

In conclusion, if you put in more effort, wherever you find yourself, you would excel, stop wishing and start working.

The grass is greener where you water the ground.

This post was inspired by a comment I made on @erikah's post.

Till we meet again beautiful people, I am Amie Geoffrey.

Stay safe.

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Thank you for writing this post, I don't know why but it really connected with me.

And thank you too for reading, it's highly appreciated.

No, thank you :) keep up the great work

I think that's the mentality of many people in developing countries. They think that streets are lined with gold overseas and that life is a bed of roses. It's a harsh reality for the people who have emigrated, who find it a rude awakening of just how much extra effort they need to put in, indeed.

They think that streets are lined with gold overseas and that life is a bed of roses. It's a harsh reality for the people who have emigrated, who find it a rude awakening of just how much extra effort they need to put in, indeed.

The earlier they realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side the better for them, hard work is just the key to seeing great results wherever we find ourselves. Thank you for stopping by ma'am.

You're very welcome:)

Wow, that was an awesome read. I totally agree with you that grass in greener where you water the ground. Working hard (smart) is always the best option to take for success.

That myth that grass is greener overseas is so common in my country Kenya too. The people who go abroad are viewed like they have made it in life. But really, you can make in anywhere as long as you put effort, consistency and creativity to it.

Going the extra mile is always better than wishing to be like others who have found success. Always remember that they did not receive success on a silver platter, they worked hard for it. Do the same!

Yes, hard work, determination, and consistency are key. Thank you ma'am for stopping by.

I love how yourself as case study to prove the point you were making. You’re very industrious. Keep watering that grass 💙

We should all ask us this question ☝️

Yes, we should, and make a great effort to decide which is best for us.