I've spent much of my life wishing for things I've seen others have.

I'll be the first to admit it. I try hard to not be materialistic, but there's a side of me that often comes out when I see others with things I wish I could have, too. Whether that be really nice clothes, a new electronic device, or even just experiences they get to have, such as traveling across other countries or going to awesome concert, I find myself thinking-

"Why can't that be me? I wish I could have that kind of life."

I have friends who have spent weeks traveling through Africa, getting new Cadillacs for graduation and buying new clothes, shoes or purses weekly. I have other friends who look like models, and look like they were born with perfectly flat tummies and pearly whites. I look around me, and trick myself into thinking, "All of my friends look so perfectly pretty and living such fun lives, why am I not like that?"

My mind becomes obsessed with thoughts like, "Well maybe if I work out and lose a lot of weight, I'll feel better about myself," or, "One day I'll make a lot of money and spend all of my time vacationing in the tropics, and then everyone will be jealous of me."

As embarrassing as it is to admit, there have been days I have found myself sulking next to a mirror thinking, "I wish I was naturally skinny and had family with a lot of money, this isn't fair."

And then I see kids and teenagers with cancer, in wheelchairs, with brain injuries and developmental issues.

I see people around me who are homeless, jobless, and hungry. Parents who aren't sure how their kids will eat that night, and kids who don't know where they'll be staying that night.

I have friends who have lost friends and family so close to them and are steal trying to adjust to life without them. I read stories about members of our military who have come home from fighting in wars, only to lose their battle at home to PTSD.

And then, it hits me; my grass is perfectly green.

All of a sudden, my battle with my self-esteem and wishing for a "better life" becomes so insignificant and small.

Sure, my appearance and weight aren't perfect, and I'm not living this adventurous, spontaneous life like others around me, but my life is extremely blessed.

Tomorrow I will wake up, and I will go to my job- unlike the 7,770,000 Americans who are without a job.

I will get to hear the voice of my mother and father, as well as my incredible fiancé, unlike others around me in my town who have recently lost a friend to suicide.

I will get to ride in my nice car that has incredibly cold AC.

I will get to go home to a house that is stocked full of food and is cool, unlike the estimated 2.3-3.5 million Americans who are homeless.

Later this month I will get to start my third year of college, unlike many other bright Americans, who simply can't afford it and are forced to spend majority of their lives working low-paying jobs just to survive.

No, my life is not perfect. There are others with "greener grass" than me, but my grass is perfectly green.

Maybe you find yourself struggling with your weight, or your job or maybe you find yourself jealous of others around you. It's much easier to zoom in on your flaws, instead of zooming out and realizing how much we have to be thankful for. We pay so much attention to those few extra pounds on the scale, we forget how much more we have to be thankful for, like ears that can hear, eyes that can see, a brain that can process thoughts and images and experiences. We forget how big this world is, and how much others are hurting and how hard it is for others just to survive.

Next time you find yourself feeling sorry for yourself, remember, you may not be happy with your life right now, and your current situation may be very hard on you, but never forget that there are so many others who would kill to be where you are.

So cry if you need to, and then take a deep breath, pray, smile, and remember, your grass is perfectly green.