Are you chasing imitations?

"Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of thosewho we cannot resemble." Samuel Johnson

Isn't it ridiculous to live in a world of imitations?

An African bullfrog isn't exactly an easy push-over in the amphibian world.  The males can grow to be 4.4 lbs and can eat small rodents.  I'm sure this big guy lived a perfectly happy life after being tricked by his iPhone-toting owner (especially after enacting a bit of revenge in the end).

However, his energy was completely wasted and his belly went empty chasing something unreal.  It ain't easy being green.

While the video made me laugh, it also got me thinking.

How often do I make the mistake of chasing imitations? (Hint: more often than I care to admit!)

I'm afraid it's not unusual for me to exert energy on things that aren't the "real deal."

I worry about circumstances over which I have no control; they are phantoms of my imagination.  Too often I find it easy to compare myself to those who cast an image that only bears a slight resemblance to the real person.

Sometimes, I behave like everyone else because - - well, because everyone else behaves that way.

Too often, in the end, I walk away feeling like this African Kermit did...empty, tired, and frustrated.

I want to be authentic and true to who I am. I want to stretch and grow, but in the way that I should...not according to the fake version of me. I want to grow in my strengths, not try to imitate any one else.

When I remember this, I'm less likely to be compared to a mindless amphibian.

Where are you likely to make comparisons?  Who are you trying to imitate?