In which I’m jealous
Posted by Isabel on October 28th, 2008. Filed under: Me.I’m jealous of girls with fancy shoes and better hair. I’m jealous of girls who don’t have to wash their hair everyday or shave their legs. I’m jealous of people with designer jeans. I’m jealous of stay at home moms. I’m jealous of people with better jobs then I have. I’m jealous of people that work part time. I’m jealous of two car families and skinny people.
I’m jealous of A –list bloggers and freelance writers. I’m jealous of people that make more money then we do. I’m jealous of people that get to travel more. I’m jealous of people that get to sleep in and take afternoon naps. I’m jealous of people that have more time for television watching. I’m jealous of people that can cook and bake. I’m jealous of people with enough time to see movies. I’m jealous of people with pretty purses and trendy belts. I’m jealous of people with home internet and laptops. I’m jealous of people that drink soda all day and eat sushi for lunch.
I’m jealous of people who get to hang out with their mom and their sisters on a daily basis. I’m jealous of people that get to visit their family more then I do. I’m jealous of people that are well-read. I’m jealous of people that are clever and funny. I’m jealous of people that are good at crafts and jewelry making. I’m jealous of people that have organized spice racks and kitchen cabinets.
I’m jealous of people that can eat whatever they want and stay skinny. I’m jealous of people that make excellent homemade pizza. I’m jealous of fun moms and moms that sew their kid’s Halloween costumes. I’m jealous of people that decorate their houses super cute for Holidays. I’m jealous of people that are educated about (and understand) the economy and politics. I’m jealous of people with good superior vocabularies. I’m jealous of people that are well-read and articulate. I’m jealous of people with more friends and/or better friends. I’m jealous of people with immaculate houses and clean toilets.
I’m jealous of people that have cute jackets and big red necklaces. I’m jealous of people with perky boobies and manicured fingernails. I’m jealous of people with husbands that don’t care how much money they spend on clothes or at the grocery store. I’m jealous of wives that have rich husbands. I’m jealous of people with awesome mother-in-laws and sweet sister-in-laws. I’m jealous of people that have friends over for dinner. I’m jealous of people that throw amazing parties. I’m jealous of people that are pregnant. I’m jealous of people with more kids. I’m jealous of people who are patient and giving and loving. I’m jealous of people that are willing to serve. I’m jealous of people that always smile and ask questions.
I’m jealous of people that are fun and happy and enjoyable. I’m jealous of people that ask the right questions. I’m jealous of people with no health problems. I’m jealous of hipsters and punk rockers. I’m jealous of people that go to shows. I’m jealous of people who know a lot about music. I’m jealous of people that can play the piano. I’m jealous of people that have good singing voices. I’m jealous of people that are good teachers. I’m jealous of people that know a lot about the scriptures and church history. I’m jealous of people that are good at math and know all the grammar rules and are good spellers. I’m jealous of people that can paint and draw and create. I’m jealous of people with amazing art collections and good furniture. I’m jealous of people with nicer houses with lovely art on the walls.
I’m jealous of people with big rings and dangly earrings. I’m jealous of people with huge diamond rings. I’m jealous of people with pretty dresses at church and better toys for their kids. I’m jealous of people with better marriages and fun date nights. I’m jealous of people with better church callings. I’m jealous of people with better treats at their house.
I’m jealous. And I need to work on that.
So tell me, what are you jealous of?
October 28th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Oh, I hear you. But I can also pick at least 10-15 things off those lists up there that you ARE good at/already have! For instance, I have seen your cute jackets. FLICKR HAS PROOF.
I am jealous of people who have career ambition, that can spell, that are more tolerant than I am… but most of all, I am jealous of Isabella Swan.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I am with you on a lot of that, depending on the day.
I am jealous of people who can throw on any outfit and it looks cute. I am jealous of people who can shop at “regular” stores. I am jealous of women who can wear cowboy boots with a dress and not look silly. I am jealous of people with blue eyes. I am jealous of people who make enough money at one job (instead of having to work two). I am jealous of people who have a good relationship with their father. I am jealous of people who found their “soul mate”. I am jealous of people with flat screen tvs. I am jealous of people who write good poetry. I am jealous of people who are moms. I am jealous of people who are engaged. I am jealous of people who are tall. I am jealous of people who aren’t commitment-phobes. I am jealous of people who create art. I am jealous of people who aren’t Type A. I am jealous of people love to exercise. I am jealous of people who have regular orgasms. I am jealous of people who can eat chocolate and carbs and not gain weight. I am jealous of people who know how to forgive. I am jealous of people who travel.
Yeah, I need to let go of my jealousies.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I am jealous of people who write really well. I’m jealous of people who read more than I do. I’m jealous of people who can run really fast. I’m jealous of people who have really pretty hair. I’m jealous of really kind people. I’m jealous of people with more money to spend. I’m jealous of people who go lots of places. I’m jealous of people who fly on airplanes. I’m jealous of people who go out for girls night out without feeling guilty. I’m jealous of people who speak really well in front of others. I’m jealous of people who get lots of comments on their blogs. I’m jealous of people who can write about what they read really well. I’m jealous of people who have daughters. I’m jealous of sister-in-laws. I”m jealous of people who are content playing for hours with their children.
I’m there with you, sister.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I’m jealous of women who don’t need to lose 10 pounds; I’m jealous of co-workers who have vacation time left; I’m jealous of co-workers who can take a lunch instead of me who needs to work through lunch to have PAID TIME to take off to meet the home inspector/fence guy/countertop guy/delivery guy; I’m jealous of people who live near or on a beach; I’m jealous of moms who have their kids alive and well; I’m jealous of people who can sing in front of others; I’m jealous of moms with new babies.
I also have an awesome fiance who says I look beautiful the way I am; who is willing to take off work to meet the home inspector/fence guy/countertop guy/delivery guy; and who understands how I feel this time of year and is doing everything he can to support me, and he reminds me to concentrate on the blessings we have, like love, family, friends, each other, Maddy, and a new house.
Perhaps he is right. I an still jealous of the beach people.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I am jealous of mothers who don’t need to yell at their children. I am jealous of people who have self control when it comes to food. I am jealous of people who can be content where they are. I am jealous of people who have blogs with regular readers. I am jealous of people who can follow a budget. i am jealous of people whose husbands make a good salary. I am jealous of people whose children are not aggressive. I am jealous of people who have a good relationship with their mother. I am jealous of people who have a good relationship with their in-laws. I am jealous of people from big families. I am jealous of people whose fathers are there for them more than once a year. I am jealous of people who are i a book club. I am jealous of people who get along well with other women. I am jealous of people who like to exercise. I am jealous of people who take good pictures. I am jealous of people who enjoy doing the fixing hair/putting on makeup/picking out jewelry thing EVERY day. I am jealous of people who can keep their house clean. I am jealous of people who enjoy cooking dinner every day. I am jealous of people who can effortlessly make a healthy meal plan for their family.
Wow, I need to work on that too!
October 28th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Wow there is a lot of jealousy in the world! I don’t really know what I’m jealous of, because I know good things have come to me, and will come to me in the future. Sometimes I feel jealous of women who are pregnant and engaged and married, but then that feeling quickly moves to happiness because I know I’ll be one day. I’m jealous of women with perfect hair and nails, but then I think, is that really important? I’m briefly jealous when I hear of an amazing vacation someone is going on, but then I think, why not plan my own?
I’m jealous of people who write at home all day, but if I try hard enough, I can make that a reality.
I think too much jealousy and envy can cloud us to what we truly have, and what’s good, in our own, beautiful lives.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I’m jealous of Isabel being brave enough to tell the Interweb what ticks her off.
But –
A chick that has 52 comments about her shiny locks probably has great hair.
A chick that can post a photograph on her blog of herself wearing a bikini is skinny.
A chick that has gone to Europe more than once is already a world-traveller to me !
A chick that can iron-on onesies & make magnets is pretty crafty.
I’m jealous of chicks that build their own houses.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I’m jealous of thin pretty girls that don’t need makeup and can look good wearing a burlap sack. I’m especially jealous of them when they can do all that even AFTER having a couple of kids. Do you hear me Heidi Klum??
October 28th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I’m jealous of people who HAVE hair
I’m jealous of people who can have kids.
Beyond that… yeah, pretty much the same stuff as you.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I’m jealous of people with huge blog followings. I’m jealous of people who don’t seem to ever get bothered by their spouse. I’m jealous of people who always look great. I’m jealous of people with designer bags.
Great post.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Very honest and cool post – jealousy is a thing I have been thinking of in recent months. In the past I was jealous of non-students. Then I was jealous of people who didn’t have to go to work. Now I am jealous of people who, although having no job and children still somehow manage to afford better things than me – what’s with that? I’m jealous of people whose partners are not out of work due to health issues and incompetent employers. I’m jealous of people who are actually able to comfortably support their partners without getting sick and having no money left to buy new towels or nicer food. I’m definately jealous of people who are healthy and never have to worry about where the money will come from or how safe their job is due to chronic conditions. I’m jealous of people with gardens and people with houses and people who have energy left at the end of a day to spend doing nice things with family and friends…
I’m also extremely grateful for all the things I have got in my life – I am incredibly lucky and always have been. I am also extremely grateful for all the things I haven’t got because they keep me in the real world and teach me to be happy with my lot. Doesn’t stop me being jealous – but I can live with a little jealousy once in a while, especially when the people around me are jealous too ;o)
October 28th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Want to know something funny? I’m jealous of you. For being a city dweller and getting to do fun city things, including living in a teensy place right downtown for awhile.
When we decided to move waaaay out (to Des Moines, French for “near SeaTac Airport”), we told ourselves that it wouldn’t be that different, that we’d be in the city all the time, that we’d have flexibility to move back whenever we wanted.
Not so, at least for now. The music has stopped, and those of us playing musical houses need to sit the eff down until the market improves.
Thus, I’ll have to live vicariously through you… Is this the part where I put in a request for you to write humorously about a homeless person dressed in a tutu or somesuch?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I’m jealous of a lot of these same things….women with rich husbands…people who know a lot about scripture….and I’m also jealous of stupid things like couples who get pregnant really easily or people who can have as many kids as they want and still seem to handle it financially.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:55 am
I’m jealous of your honesty. I’m also jealous of almost everything on your list.
October 29th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I’m jealous of an old friend of mine (we had a falling out many years ago) who’s now runs her own photography business. I’m jealous because that’s a dream of mine and she’s living it, while I’m working a corporate job that I despise.
I’m jealous of families that have girls. I love my two boys to death but I really wanted a girl.
I’m jealous of people who have maids because cleaning is a pain in the tush.
Your list was pretty good, I can relate to a lot of what you are jealous of!
October 29th, 2008 at 10:30 am
All I have to say is… Amen.
October 29th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I’m jealous of people who have handyman husbands who get honey do lists done.
October 29th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
great post. I can relate to many of those things. I have been feeling really frazzled lately – short w/my girls and my husband.
I am feeling jealous of working moms who make it look easy. I am jealous of people w/more money than me. I am jealous of my brother who is buying/building a gorgeous new house. I am jealous of people who seem to never have any family drama. I am jealous of people who drive Volvo station wagons. I am jealous of people who decorate their houses better than me. I am jealous of moms who have had kids and still have flat stomachs and no stretch marks. I am jealous of anyone that has a nice voice and can sing. I am jealous of anyone who is artistic.
and just about everything else on your list.
How do i stop being jealous and take a minute to be thankful for what I really do have?
October 29th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I’m jealous of slim people who don’t have neck fat or stomach fat. I’m jealous of people who can wear anything they want and look great. I’m jealous of people with small or medium size boobs. I’m jealous of small waists. I’m jealous of non hairy arms. I’m jealous of people who get to travel. I’m jealous of people with designer purses and jeans. I’m jealous of people with real diamond earrings and gifts of jewelry from their man. I’m jealous of women who get flowers given to them for no reason. I’m jealous of people who don’t have any debt. I’m jealous of people who can build their own house. I’m jealous of people who live in the country. I’m jealous of housewives. I’m jealous of people who live in Santa Barbara, especially young moms who go jogging with their babies in a stroller with all-terrain tires. I’m jealous of people who can pay full price at stores like Nordstrom and Saks. I’m jealous of people who can work part time. I’m jealous of people who can work from home and write blog articles for a living. I’m jealous of people who get lots of comments on their blog and everybody loves them. I’m jealous of people with tall handsome husbands with executive jobs. I’m jealous of people with bachelors and masters and doctorate degrees. I’m jealous of people who can afford to go to college or who have parents who can pay to send them to college. I’m (used to be) jealous of teenagers whose parents bought them a brand new car when they got their drivers license. I’m jealous of people who have lake houses, summer houses, and beach cottages. I’m jealous of people with big sparkly wedding rings. I’m jealous of people who have their own business. I’m jealous of people with nice digital cameras who can take beautiful photos and sell them. I’m jealous of women who have had 2 or more kids but who still have their high school figure. I’m jealous of women whose husbands work but they don’t have to and they can zip around town in their convertibles and go shopping and eat out all the time. I’m jealous of people who get to go to concerts and plays and operas. I’m jealous of people who live in towns with culture and cool places to hang out. I’m jealous of people who are the life of the party, the center of attention, who are always being asked over, who are always socially active. I’m jealous of people who get invited to parties when I don’t. I’m jealous of couples who can buy a house a year after they are married. I’m jealous of people with savings accounts and retirement. I’m jealous of people with “green” or hybrid cars. I’m jealous of people who can get by on a meager salary, doing something they love. I’m jealous of popular people. I’m jealous of people with all the latest gadgets and electronics. I’m jealous of people who can shop at regular size stores. I’m jealous of people who have several pairs of boots. I’m jealous of people who have gardeners. I’m jealous of people who seem to have everything go right for them – the “haves”. I am a “have not”. And for that I am jealous.
October 29th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Below ‘i wish I had’ can be substituted for ‘I’m Jealous of’ :
I’m jealous of people who are the world’s best pianists/swimmers/singers/painters/scientists and are younger than me.
I’m jealous of children cos childhood is wonderful and I’d love to go back in time to re-live it.
I’m jealous of people who have their dads, sibilings and grandparents who are still living.
I’m jealous of people who live near shops like Deseret book/Seagull book and don’t have to spend more on postage than the actual item when ordering on the net.
I’m jealous of people who got to MOVE to University and live on Campus and attend resident parties.
I’m jealous of people who go to/went to Oxford/Cambridge/Yale/Harvard/NYU.
I’m jealous of people who got to go on a mission (yeh funny thing to be jealous of – couple missions are great – but a single one would have been awesome!).
I’m jealous of ‘morning people’ and people who can fall asleep when ever they want.
I wish I lived in a very green, beautiful village with a river and paddy fields everywhere. – somewhere in Asia.
Can’t think of any more right now…hmm.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
If I listed my jealousies, it would take to long. So here’s my what I’m thankful for at this moment:
-That it’s not 1835, so when Baby woke up with croupe she was able to see a Dr. who could help us.
-And that she didn’t have to stay in the hospital.
-That our house doesn’t smell like cat pee (remember the Georgetown house if we left the windows closed in the summer? DAMN YOU CAT LADY!!! Baby’s humidifier is bringing out some skanky smell in her room. It smells like a thrift store. Still, better than urine…)
-That we will, one day, have our own home again (and that it won’t smell like cat pee)
October 29th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I’m jealous of people that bought a home BEFORE this crazy madness of freaking expensive homes so that I must rent for heaven knows how much longer.
I’m jealous of Stephenie Meyer for writing a simple book and having the huevos to take it to get published.
I’m jealous of thin people. Especially jealous of those that look thin and awesome right after having a baby.
I’m jealous of people that own Bosch mixers and VitaMix blenders.
I’m jealous of people with big yards, huge trees, and barns.
I’m jealous of people that get to visit NYC and Europe.
Great post!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:59 am
I’m jealous of moms without stretch marks! Also, being the mom of a busy 9 month old, I’m quite jealous of women who get time to themselves and have retained their brain cells after giving birth. I’m jealous of my friends who still live in NYC (we moved back down south recently and I love it, but I do miss the big city sometimes). Mostly, I’m jealous of people who are not lactose intolerant. I mean, really, I love cheese more than almost anything in the world and I have to take a pill and say a prayer just to digest it.
Great post!
October 30th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Well, now that you got that out of your system I hope that tomorrows post is you listing all the BLESSINGS in your life.
October 30th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Judging by the long litany of items listed, you are not jealous of me in the least bit.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Um, yeah, all that stuff you said. I laughed at the part about big red necklaces, because REALLY.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:02 am
I wish you weren’t so jealous! It’s a lot of wasted energy on such a beautiful person! : )
October 31st, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I’m generally a pretty thankful & happy person, and I try REALLY hard not to be jealous of the “big” stuff (i.e., I have no problem being openly jealous of someone who’s eating a brownie when I REALLY WANT A BROWNIE), but the one thing I can never shake is being jealous of people who have really open, honest, close relationships with their parents. I just don’t have that, and I know I never will. It really eats at me. Blah.
November 5th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
[...] and she listed, in no apparent order, many things she is jealous of. If you want, you can read it here. She asked her readers to write out their jealousies in the comments. I was honest and wrote [...]