"Comparison is the thief of joy."
I think perhaps, this fifth day of this new year, that I should adopt the Theodore Roosevelt quote I'm always touting, as my New Year's Resolution and find a way to actually heed its truth.
The latest in my personal battle comes with the arrival of January. It may well be my favorite month, I'm ready to exclaim. But! Oh! Wait! So is November.
See?
Where this need or habit to compare and rate comes from, I do not know, but I do believe I'll be happier when I can stop. I like peach pie and I like cherry pie. I like fine-china and glazed pottery. I like several labels of Sangiovese.
I am however, drawing the line at restaurants, and this is where Roosevelt makes things most confusing for me. Let's take Thai food as an example...
We have such great Thai restaurants in Dallas, and W and I frequent many of them, preferring certain things at certain places. We both love two particular noodle dishes at Thai Soon, and the shrimp fried rice (add cashews) at Banana Leaf. Appetizers at Royal Thai always offer something unique. The husband & wife team at Ruang Thai presents a delicious meal in a most welcoming way, while a couple other places have good food but are off-puttingly-cool to customers. And in contrast, there's the much appreciated BYOB with no corkage fee offered at several.
So, if on a Friday night we've a hankering for the crispiest egg rolls and corn patties, or a green over a red curry, is it wrong to compare? I think not, but it certainly makes a New Year's Resolution trickier.
Without comparison, I will simply say, I do so love January!
The month is a much-needed breather for me, a calm after chaos. Coming days will be slowed down from post-holiday weariness, or the weather, or by my pure selfish preference. Excess diminishes, quiet prevails. January becomes not a comparison, just a truth; that was then, this is now.
I'm finding joy in the now.
