Good old social media. We love it, we hate it, we're addicted to it, and we're sick of it. Between Facebook, twitter, Instagram, and everything in between we are so connected. We can follow celebrities on Snapchat to get a glimpse at their lives. We can take quizzes to learn about our future. We can try to get #JusticeforBradsWife on Twitter. We can stay in touch with old friends on Facebook. We can use Instagram for everything from marketing our favorite products to fueling our self esteem. The possibilities, good and bad, are truly endless.
Here's something I always find fascinating on social media, how perfect everyone's life looks. Everyone looks so happy! Promotions, new homes, kids, engagements, you name it and I bet I've seen it on my timeline this week.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that and I'm not saying I'm not guilty of it myself, because I so am. I would love it if everyone I knew did have a perfect life filled with everything they've ever wanted, but we all know that's just not happening.
Recently I was talking with a friend about a mutual acquaintance of ours who just seems to have it all. A thriving career, going on vacations, going to the gym all the time, and constantly posting about her success. It got us wondering, why does she feel the need to remind us all daily that she's so happy? So successful? I hate to admit but it made me wonder if she was really as happy as she claimed.
A few different Facebook friends seemed like they were doing so well, married with kids and living the American dream. I would see their posts and think, "Wow, what a perfect life. I want that." Then one day I realized "Weird, haven't seen her post about her husband for a while. He wasn't in any of these pictures..." Is it possible this person's life I was just envying isn't as perfect as it seemed?
There have been so many times where the grass looks so much greener on Facebook, then I hear through the grapevine that the grass has actually been stomped on, dried out and covered up with AstroTurf.
We all have this idea in or heads that we need to look good to our peers. It's like a competition, who from high school is doing the best in life. We all glaze over our issues, fake a smile and post it on Instagram. It's okay to "fake it till you make it" and it's okay to leave your dirty laundry at home. It's okay to only post the Insta-worthy.
Just don't waste your time lusting after people's lives that they portray on social media. You don't know what goes on behind closed doors. You don't know what problems they silently struggle with.
It's okay if you feel like posting: Today was terrible, I don't have a job and no guys, I'm not engaged yet.
It's okay if the only thing you relate to online are articles headlined 30 Signs You're a Hot Mess.
It's okay if roll your eyes at every pregnancy, engagement, promotion announcement from now until the end of time.
Don't buy into the charade that everyone you're following has it figured out because I'd be willing to bet they don't. Life isn't as good as you pretend it is online, life is as good as you make it.
