Have you ever scrolled down your social media feeds only to find women who are looking prim and proper, happy and loving mothers, ecstatic wives flaunting their latest possession, or a gorgeous group of girlfriends sipping lattes at the trendiest spot in town? The answer is definitely yes and when this is what we see on a daily basis it becomes hard to ignore. But what we see isn’t the issue here, it is how we feel about it and more specifically how that makes us feel about ourselves and our lives.
Every once in a while an inspirational figure would tell it like it is and help us realize that all this isn’t real, or a motivational speaker would share words about inner happiness, and as much as we would like to feel strong and satisfied with our lives, it isn’t always the case.
We are human beings and we get jealous. But have we ever rationalized our jealousy?
We compare our realities with other people’s filtered images. As mothers we compare our hectic mornings with the kids, driving them to school and hurrying off to work or errands with photos of a slow morning in bed followed by a cappuccino and a delicate cookie. We compare wolfing down our food during our lunch break or right before picking up our kids with images of brunch and champagne. We compare our gritty afternoon routine full of homework and bath time with square sized pictures of shopping at the mall for the hottest outfits.
But that’s all there is to it, it’s comparing reality to an image. No one shows their daily grind, the struggle, the hustle, everyone wants to reflect a glossy image. That isn’t necessarily wrong because each person is free to show what they want on their platforms, but what is wrong is falling into the trap that causes jealousy, hatred and being ungrateful for what we have. When we think we’ve had enough of noisy chaotic days, others might be wishing they had a family to tend to. When we have argued with our spouse, others might be longing to find their life partner. When we complain about long hours at our job, others might be endlessly searching for employment in this horrible economy.
Never take for granted what you have, and never be fooled by what is being portrayed online. Always be thankful, always keep it real, and remember that behind each perfected photograph is a story, a struggle.
Maria Najem
Photo: illustrationhistory.org
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