Stop Cutting Your Grass!

This isn’t an article on the benefits of letting your grass grow really long, although I’ve heard that most grass needs to be at least 5 or 6 inches tall to be really healthy. No, I had an epiphany recently that I wanted to share. Since moving back to Maryland almost eight years ago, I’ve been cutting my own lawn. We have about an acre, so I did what any true blue suburban American dad would do…I bought a tractor, and spent countless hours on the weekends cutting, trimming and blowing the lawn.

Well…flash forward to this past Father’s Day…we were at my father in law’s house for a cookout. They live on the water, so we were out on the kayaks, in the boat, and having a great time. But that voice in the back of my head got louder…”you know Dennis, you need to cut the grass at home”. I tried to ignore it, but as the day wore on and I started thinking about the upcoming week and the fact that I wouldn’t be home, the voice starting yelling…”YOU NEED TO CUT THE GRASS DENNIS!” Of course, we left my in-laws so that I could get the grass cut before the work week. My grass always wins, it’s relentless.

My wife went along with it, because she, like me was used to being bullied by our lawn. We get home and halfway through cutting the grass, with the sun setting..my tractor dies. No warning, just dies. Now I’ve got a half cut lawn, a dead tractor and the stress of the ever growing grass. That’s when I had an epiphany. I started thinking about how my brother handles these situations. He doesn’t cut his own grass, he has a service. Could I have a service? 

But…I cut my OWN grass. Pay someone to cut my grass? Standing there in the middle of my yard, with the sky darkening I had an awakening.

I DO NOT NEED TO CUT MY OWN LAWN!

As it turns out, I can pay someone $55 per cut to cut, trim and blow my lawn. They come during the week, when I’m out working and we’re none the wiser. In fact, it’s almost like our lawn doesn’t grow.

See all these years, I’ve unwittingly given up hours and hours of time that could have been spent with my family, making memories, going to the park, seeing a movie, whatever. I gave it up because I thought cutting my grass was noble. I held onto this belief that saving a few bucks is more important than my time. I’ve since realized that the only thing I have a limited supply of is time. I can get more money, I can’t get more time. And nothing is more valuable to me than spending time with the ones I love.

Now, I’m not saying that cutting your own grass is a mistake for everyone, but think about what you’re sacrificing because you hold onto a belief that is no longer serving you well. I have my weekends back. Two weekends ago, I actually fell asleep in the pool for an hour or two. Last weekend, I just sat outside with my wife and talked. I’m not sure what this weekend will bring, but it will never again include sitting on a tractor for a few hours.

For me cutting the grass is a metaphor. I no longer trade my time for pennies. My time is priceless and I refuse to give it away for nothing. Value time above all else, give it to those you love and to do what you love…not to your lawn.

You can reach me at [email protected], inmail, or lounging around in the backyard.