Help me to get a grip!!

[Joggerone]

Hi,
we’ve just got back from an afternoon at my cousins house celebrating her 40th. I hadn’t been up her new house and omg!! It’s beautiful- immaculately decorated and with a lovely extension, massive kitchen, island, skylights etc etc. I love her and I don’t begrudge her anything but I can’t help but feel jealous!

I’ve just got home to my nice bit slightly in need of a refresh 3 bed semi, with its 15 year old kitchen and no extension!!

I know it’s pathetic and I should be grateful for what I have ( I am) but the green eyed monster has got the better of me today. Please feel free to give me. Virtual slap!!

I can’t afford to own my own house, and my kitchen is riddled with mould, flaking paint, rotting skirting boards and really old and stained cupboards. Hope that helps 😆
I am being humorous btw, even though the above is true.

Can you use it as motivation to improve your career and earning power?

Well, it's difficult to be constantly grateful for what you have ALL the time so the odd moan or bit of jealousy can be forgiven! My sister and i get jealous of other sibling who is always off on wonderful holidays and who whatsapps us loads of photos while they re there. Sister can't go on holiday anymore as has ill husband to care for, and I cannot afford it. We know sibling doesn't mean to rub our faces in it, so to speak -they're just happt and sharing their photos- but it's hard not to get a little 'poor me' sometimes.

I look at those Grand Designs type of programme, where they have the most amazing kitchens and wonder if anyone actually does anything other than have a strategically place vase of flowers sitting on a vast expanse of very expensive work top.

Home is home. It may not be a show home, but it’s what we have and what we’re grateful for. Nothing wrong with being fed up and a bit envious sometimes, but I bet, even if you have the amazing place, there will always be someone who has something even more amazing and loads of people who won’t have anything much at all.

Perfectly normal response to seeing someone with stuff you wish you had. Envy is a very normal emotion.

I would advise you just take a moment to realise she’s in the vast minority. Most homes look a little tired - because most people don’t have loads of cash.

I’ve felt envious so many times in my life, but that’s ok. Like I said, completely normal response and emotion.