Comparison is the thief of joy, they say.

Who are they really, though? Who is saying that, and why?

If Elon Musk compares himself to me, would he find his joy stolen? I mean, I’m pretty good overall, but in a head-to-head comparison, Musk is not going to feel disparaged, right?

Comparison is important, as we’ve talked about over the years. It just comes down to who is being compared to whom.

Should I be comparing my athletic ability to Lebron James’s? Probably not. He is one of the most genetically gifted athletes of his generation. He has access to the best training and nutrition. He is able to devote a sizeable amount of his time and energy and significant wealth to maintain his ability. I… am not.

Should I be comparing my athletic ability to the kids on the basketball courts with whom I occasionally play? Well, maybe, maybe not. I mean, they are over a decade younger, have no history of major injuries, and get to play far more often than I do.

But I wouldn’t want to only compare myself to thirty-year-old guys with chronic issues in their knees and ankles and who knows what else, right? I might be the best among them, but what is that worth to me?

It is important to have yardsticks in your life, and that’s what realistic, reasonable comparisons give us, right?

Whether it is to someone better, or someone worse, or a past version of ourself, or a hypothetical version of ourself, comparison gives us context. Context is good, therefore comparison is good.

Now, if you’re unable to use context, well, you’re probably stupid, aren’t you?

And stupidity certainly is the thief of joy.