When Dr. Redenius and I first began to think about where he should practice upon graduation from Palmer, we threw around all kinds of ideas. The one place we kept going back to, though, was Lake City, his hometown. Not being from this area, I was hesitant to agree to making the move back to Lake City. It was not that I did not like Lake City; I always loved visiting the area. A move to Lake City, though, would mean considerably downsizing the size of town I would be living in, and on top of that, I would be two hours away from my own family and all of my friends. He promised me, though, that once I got here, I would be glad we made the move.
As one might expect, once our decision was made vocal, everyone had an opinion on our decision to open a 24 hour fitness center and Redenius Chiropractic back in Lake City. Many people questioned why we didn't take the chance to go "explore new lands" while we were young and unattached to anywhere. A handful of my friends and acquaintances thought I was nuts (for lack of a better term). They commonly asked questions like: Is there anything to do there?! Or, Are you sure this is what you want? My personal favorite was, How could you submit yourself to living that far from Starbucks?! They, as one would assume, were just concerned about our overall happiness.
At first, I was unsure how to really respond to all of these questions. I was constantly finding myself comparing our situation to that of my peers, and as a result, I didn't really know the right answer to their questions. Normally, I'd smile and laugh it off with them, saying things like, Oh, I will survive. However, now I realize, how wrong I was to answer their questions in that way.
......And this is where the watering can comes in!
If I have learned anything throughout the process of putting Dr. Redenius through graduate school, moving to many different teaching positions, and finally ending up in Lake City, I have learned that (as one of my favorite authors, Jane Green, once said):
"The grass is not greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water it."
Perhaps a better way for me to have responded to people who question why we chose Lake City and why we are happy and excited about being in here would be that we are happy because we want to be. Dr. Redenius and I have a vested interest in making this place even greater than it already is. We are happy because we spend hours and hours each week "watering our grass."
I have come to find that when we constantly compare ourselves to those around us, we lose sight of the opportunities and positive aspects of our lives that are right in front of us. When you take the time to water your own lawn; the grass on the other side becomes less appealing. When you stop wishing for what you are "missing out on," you begin to realize how much you really have.
So, I challenge everyone this week to improve their mental health by reflecting on how green their own grass is. My Aunt Jackie once told me that, "A flower doesn't compare itself to other flowers; it just blooms." Consider that thought, and think about how much effort you put into making your own day-to-day life the best that it can be, and I assure you that you will realize that your grass, too, is a vibrant shade of green. And, what better way to reflect on our own lives than while taking a nice walk (another shameless advertisement for the summer walking program :-))?
Dr. Redenius and I are looking forward to making Lake City a place where younger families like our own want to move back to. We want to help everyone, new community members and lifelong residents, realize how much is already in this community and how much potential our community has to grow and thrive. This is why are are so excited to open up Redenius Chiropractic and Lake City 24 Hour Fitness Center this summer.
Our hope is to encourage community members to realize how green their own grass is, and the first step to doing that is taking control of ones physical and mental well-being.
Just like last week, we will be giving away a FREE prize this week! All you need to do is “Like” the Redenius Chiropractic official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/redeniuschiropractic/) and SHARE this blog post to your own page by Thursday, May 26 2016! The giveaway is open to USA residents only.
This week, we will be giving away a beautiful outdoor plant. Why? To remind you that the grass is not greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you take the time to water it.
Have a great week!
Dr. Jeff and Jenny Redenius
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