Serial Relocation Syndrome

“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.” ~James Openheim

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. It might just look that way, especially to the untrained eye. One often forgets to appreciate the greenness of the grass he’s already on.

I’ve come to the conclusion that life is as great and as bountiful as you choose for it to be. I’ve come to this conclusion to help me stick to specific place and give it all I’ve got. See I seem to be suffering from “Serial Relocation Syndrome.”

You may be suffering from this same bug if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Inability to decide what you want to do or where you want to be
• Inadequate feelings, including yearning, searching, seeking and scrambling for an intangible, unspecified goal
• Constant but irregular relocation to different towns, cities, states or for extreme cases, different countries and continents
• Uncontrollable swearing and abrupt, aggressive bowel movements (rare cases)

If you suffer from one or more of the above ailments then you too may have the “Serial Relocation Syndrome.”

Experts have long argued as to the best practices that can cure this condition. Doctors of the highest ranks prescribe medications such as Adderall and even medical Marijuana. Motivational speakers preach of “following your dreams,” “just doing it” and “living with no regrets.” Parents will nag that you need to be a lawyer, an architect or any other traditional title that will pay the bills and allow you to get them a good retirement plan. On the other hand, it’s the Zen masters that probably have the key.

Mindfulness is one of the foundations of Zen Buddhism that refers to finding happiness and relieving stress by living in the moment. Now believe me, this “living in the moment” thing is much harder than it sounds. No one is always living in the moment; we have to catch ourselves drifting out of it and refocus to bring ourselves back.

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~Abraham Lincoln

Now stop! Take a moment; bring yourself back, back to this moment. What’s around you? What’s in front of you? What are you overlooking?

Lately, I tend to close my eyes when I eat my dessert. It’s something that allows me to fully enjoy the different tastes that trigger my senses. Instead of quickly gobbling up my food, like I used to do, I now savor the moment. I savor the flavor, the texture, the sweetness and the chocolateness of it all. Instead of thinking the other ice cream flavor may have been better, I just enjoy the one I have.

“Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them.” ~Alan Watts.

The important thing here is to realize that you don’t have to be “there” in order to be happy. You can be right “here,” right where you are and be able to succeed with what you have. What you really need to question is your motivation and drive to succeed rather than make excuses for why it can’t be done here.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~Theodore Roosevelt

So this is my resolution to do what I can with what I have. No more thinking that things will be better somewhere else or that the grass is greener across the fence.

All I am is here, and all I have is this moment. =)

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne