When You Feel Like the Second Pick in the Draft of Life
Do you ever feel like you’re on the sidelines of life and you’re the second pick?
You feel second best?
Or the event you’re at is sub-par? Maybe the date you’re on was your second choice. Perhaps it was the other way around!!! You wish you were on the guest list for that other party, event, fashion show…but you aren’t.
Maybe, on this New Year’s Eve, you’re watching others enjoy the ball drop while you wallow in loneliness.
In life, when you have the chance to choose, you’re not going to choose the bruised orange on the tree, or one rotting on the ground. You’re going to choose the most delightfully ripe and fresh orange.
But sometimes, you don’t have the luxury of choice.
Sometimes, it seems that some people just have the best oranges fall in their lap. Like life was delightfully given to them. And depending on your own life situation, there’s a bitter taste in your mouth - but you can’t hate it:
Haha! Is it just that your glass is half full? If this is your constant mindset, it most definitely will be.
It’s so tempting to take on the spinning narrative of:
“Everyone else is____”.
Like I’m here, but everyone else is… over there. And it’s better over there.
I often find myself falling into this trap.
Recently, I got a knee injury which prevents me from working out as hard as I would like to. Initially, I was so angry about it. I just wanted to *poof*, make it all better. But that wasn’t an option! So guess what? I found other workout options. Now, while incorporating rehabilitation moves for my knee, I can also walk at an incline and still get some sort of a sweat in!
In those weak moments when I feel like life’s options are slim pickins, here’s what I do:
Stop asking why. Instead of asking “why don’t I have?” or stating “I wish____”.
Affirm “I get to_____”.Like I did with my knee. Or, instead of: “I wish I was off somewhere exotic...”
“I get to enjoy a few calm days where I can reflect on the year and consider what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown”.
Affirm something you’re grateful for. You’ll find that there is plenty to choose from.
Give yourself feasible options. As harsh as this one may seem, tell yourself: “That is not an option”. And I know you know what really is not an option!! This is where you are now. There is some joy in where that is. You just have to find it.
When drafting your life, remember that the attitude you approach each situation in life is always be number one.
