I feel like this cow. A lot. Do you?

Me: “Man, I really can’t wait to get out of school and start real life! College is getting old!”
Everyone in real life: “College is the best time of your life! Don’t rush it!”
Conclusion: … The grass is always greener.

I started realizing this fact once I talked to my parents about my feelings currently surrounding this whole college thing I’m doing. When I’m in college, I’ll wish I wasn’t. When I’m out of college, I’ll realize how free and fun my college life was. I think that’s just a fact of life. So how can I avoid this chronic discontent? Well, interestingly, I found my answer in a Justin Bieber song.

Yep. I said it. Justin Bieber solved my life problem. Well, actually, I guess it’s not the Biebs, it’s Big Sean. He’s talking about his relationship with this girl and says: “You, you the one that I argue with, I feel like I need a new girl to be bothered with, But the grass ain’t always greener on the other side, It’s green where you water it.”

Boom. It’s greener where you water it.

The profundity of that line shocked me. I wasn’t expecting it. But I had to ask myself: am I watering my grass before I complain about it’s striking lack of greenness? Well, either way, this semester, I’ve decided to make sure I water my grass. What are my priorities? My relationship with God, my schoolwork, my new job in the admissions office, making new friends, and staying in touch with those at home.

Sometimes it’s tempting, when you’re in a temporary place in life, not to invest and dig in where you are. After last semester and some of the disappointments that accompanied it, I was definitely tempted to “survive” my next semester. I wasn’t interested in living life as fully as possible; I just wanted to make sure I got through okay. My heart was not here. But now, I’ve decided I want to be completely where I am: school. It might as well be anyway, since I can’t be anywhere else at the moment. I’m going to make some changes to try and have as much fun, live the most life, and give the most I can. I’m gonna water my grass.

This year, with all the talk of New Year’s resolutions and stuff, it’s good to think now about what you want for your next year. I’ll ask you this question: where are you comparing your grass to someone else’s? Or to another time in your life? Are you so looking forward or behind that you can’t live completely where you are? You’re where you’re at until you’re not there anymore, so you might as well be completely there while you’re there. Makes sense, right? How are you going to water your grass this year? I pray that God would show you the blessings in your season and with your particular lawn he’s given you right now, and that he gives you the wisdom and joy to water it. Blessings!