D.I. COLUMNIST
The Real Deal
with Tommy D'Aprile
H
ow many of you
have said, if you are
being honest, “I want
what they have,” “I
want to look like them,” or “I
would love to have their life-
style,”? The truth is that some-
where and at some time we have
all looked at another person and
had a little envy of their lifestyle
or looks.
I believe it’s OK to want to set
goals and achieve things in life,
but I do not think it is healthy to
want to be like someone or covet
their lifestyle. In today’s form of
instant society, we see so many
ads in our faces. Buy this or that
and you will be so happy. But
when the reality sets in we find just another item that did not give us
joy and a credit card bill that needs to be paid.
The issue relates to self. If you are not happy with what you have
and who you are now, it’s going to be hard to be happy when you get
everything you want. Contrary to popular belief, money and stuff do
not make us happy. Although it may bring us a sense of excitement,
it does not last. Most of us buy things we can’t afford to impress
people we don’t know or even like.
Sound familiar? Getting comfortable with who you are and hav-
ing a genuine respect and love for yourself will give you a greater
sense of peace and joy. And in the long run, isn’t that what we all
really want?
When I started working out at the gym, I would see these people
with muscles and who were in great shape. Instead of being the best
I could be, I only wanted to look like them. I rarely looked in the
mirror and appreciated what I had. I would continue to compare
myself to others.
I remember feeling good about myself one day, then in walked Mr.
Universe. This guy looked like a chiseled statue. I went from feeling
good to feeling bad about myself very quick. And why? Because I
was not secure enough in who I was. I had a hard time accepting the
way I was made and wanted to look like someone else.
Sound familiar? Many of you today are struggling with this and I
will tell you what I did. I finally accepted who I was and became ap-
preciative of how I was made. It was not until then that I started be-
ing the best me that I could be. I don’t compare anymore. I still work
hard in the gym and I set goals, but it’s for me, not someone else.
Same thing with possessions. I used to have to have everything. I
found out the more you have, the more headaches that come with it.
Be content, again, set goals and go after them, but always be happy
with where you are and that will give you a better appreciation of
your future blessings.
There was a guy I knew that had an older car. He never took care
of it. I mean it was trashed. When I asked him if he was going to
clean it up, he said no. He would say that when he got a new car he
would take care of that one. Well, he got a new car and guess what?
He trashed that one, too.
People, stop trashing yourself and realize that all of you are amaz-
ing and a true gift of God. Start seeing yourself as the masterpiece
you were created to be. Work hard, play, laugh, love and enjoy every
day. Some days will be better than others, but you can enjoy all of
them. Stop beating yourself and comparing yourself to others. Take
a long look around and you will see how blessed you already are. As
always, the choice is yours to make.
Email Tommy at
tommyd@dragillustrated.com
March 2020
(800) 208-1755
Meziere.com
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