Comparison is NOT the Thief of Joy.

Back at the 2012 Texas Style Council, I (and many other women) listened attentively while Queen Kendi (not being sarcastic, she's awesome) gave a motivational and inspirational keynote speech. I took copious notes, and one quote that stuck out especially was Theodore Roosevelt's "Comparison is the thief of joy." I think it stuck out to others too, because now I see this quote EVERYWHERE, all the time.

I get what the quote means. If you spend your life comparing yourself to others, you will never truly be happy with yourself. Especially in the blogging/Instagram/oversharing world we live in, it's easy to see someone's something and wish it was your something. House, husband, wife, car, dining room table, dog leash, whatever. I'm guilty of it, and I'm sure you-there reading this are guilty of it as well.

I spent a good while after TxSC thinking on it, and actively trying to change the way I felt about myself and others. I like to think I did a good job, but really who knows? Cut to me now, two-ish years later. I'm poking around on Pinterest and I see that darn quote again. Then it hit me.

Comparison isn't the thief of joy, it is actually joy's friend from high school who, even though they were pretty good friends, were always in competition for the best grades and lead in the musical and so on.

We need comparison. We need people to look up to and be inspired by. Maybe sometimes we compare ourselves and feel bad about it, but that is 100% pure motivation to be better. "If she can do it, why can't I?" If I didn't have anyone or anything to compare myself, my blog, or my shops to, I wouldn't ever push myself to be better. I would be content with what I do or have, and wouldn't learn or grow.

So compare away! Compare from dawn til dusk. The important thing is to make really solid, awesome decisions based on that comparison. Learn things and become better. Sorry, Teddy!