As my vacation in France comes to an end, one moment keeps replaying in my mind.

One evening, my family were walking along the Seine River, taking in the beauty of Paris. The Eiffel Tower was glowing in the distance, and when the clock struck the hour, it came alive with thousands of sparkling lights. People stopped in their tracks. Some stood quietly, others applauded, and almost everyone reached for their phones. It was one of those moments that reminds you just how beautiful the world can be.

Then something even more memorable happened.

Just a few yards ahead of us, a young man got down on one knee.

He had planned everything—a red carpet, balloons, champagne, a photographer, and the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.

It was beautiful.

I remember thinking, “This has to be one of the most incredible proposals I’ve ever seen.”

We smiled, nodded at the happy couple, and continued walking.

Less than ten yards later, we stopped again.

Another young man was proposing.

Only this time, everything was bigger.

There were multiple photographers.

More elaborate decorations.

Fireworks lighting up the Paris sky.

It looked like something from a movie.

And that’s when my mind went somewhere unexpected.

I couldn’t help but wonder…

How did the first couple feel?

Just moments earlier, they had experienced what looked like a perfect proposal.

Now another proposal, only a few steps away, seemed even grander.

Did the young woman suddenly wonder if hers was enough?

Did the young man question whether he should have done more?

Nothing about their moment had changed.

Only what they were comparing it to.

As we continued our walk, I realized how often I do the same thing.

Sometimes I compare myself to other leaders.

Sometimes I look at another marriage and wonder if theirs is stronger.

Sometimes I see someone building a bigger business, speaking on larger stages, or achieving goals faster than I am.

For a brief moment, it’s easy to forget how much I already have to be grateful for.

Comparison is a strange thing.

It can push us to improve. In business, healthy competition often drives innovation, better service, and better products.

But when comparison becomes the measure of our worth, it steals something far more valuable.

Joy.

Gratitude.

Contentment.

As Theodore Roosevelt wisely said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

As I leave France, that’s the lesson I’m bringing home.

Learn from people who are ahead of you.

Celebrate their success.

Let them inspire you.

But don’t let someone else’s blessings blind you to your own.

That evening, two couples got engaged under the same Eiffel Tower.

I hope both women went to bed believing they had experienced the most beautiful proposal in the world.

Because in that moment…

They had.

So let me leave you with one question:

What joy might you rediscover if you stopped looking sideways and started appreciating what is already right in front of you?

Dr. Anthony Ndungu, PhD. MBA, RN
Entrepreneur | Leader | Growth Advocate
CEO, http://www.kansashomehealth.com|www.medicashift.com|www.meadowlarkcarehomes.com
“We make lives better.”