Social Media Envy is Ridiculous but I Understand it
When your social media friends post pictures of their fun looking vacations, expensive dinners or well behaved kids, do you really think their lives are perfect?
I can understand the feelings of envy because I am human and I've experienced it from time to time. However I can reassure you that your friends who are sharing pictures of their highlights don't have perfect and easy lives. They are just that, highlights!
I know many people who have disconnected from friends on Facebook because of social media envy. And I understand because when my kids were little, I couldn't go on vacation. No one could watch my autistic son even for a weekend nor did we have the money for it. It was a very bad time and I admit I had daggers coming out of my eyes when I saw friends posting pictures of even the night out in town. I had no respite then and that was 10 years ago. I'm thankful it's 2017 and not 2007. That was truly an awful year.
However fast forward to now and after going through many life's blows, I have learned a lot. Including just because someone is sharing something that can trigger envious feelings doesn't at all mean their lives are perfect. The truth is, we don't know what really goes on behind the keyboard.
Maybe that individual who is able to take many trips in a year went through years of hardship before reaping their rewards. Or perhaps if someone is showing pictures of just one fun vacation, maybe they had to sacrifice other good things to pay for it. Same goes with an expensive dinner that person is showing off.
That smiling and well behaved baby that the proud parents are showing off is sharing a good moment.
How do you know that the baby is colicky at certain times of the day?
Maybe that picture that your friend shared of his or her perfectly happy looking family isn't dealing with some serious struggles that you know nothing about? What if they are always fighting or someone in the family has a serious illness, but wanted to capture a good moment to show off?
I'm just saying only because your friends are sharing their highlights does not mean their lives are easy. Who doesn't want to share the good stuff? It makes you happy so do it. I have shared highlights too and believe me my life is no picnic. Soon I'm heading to Vegas and you can bet I'll be sharing those pics. But just because I've had nice vacations and nice times in Vegas (I've lost count on how many times I have gone) doesn't mean that my life is perfect.
There is also something to be said about those who only share their highlights and fake having a perfect life on social media. They are hiding something big! Keep it all in perspective.
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Great post Miriam! Very true points for sure! Have an awesome day!
I really appreciate authentic posts like this and I look forward to seeing more of your content in the future. If you haven’t already, consider joining the #minnowsupport so we can connect and continue to evolve and learn from each other! Remember, be yourself, because nobody else does it better -- Full #Steem ahead @miriamslozberg :)
Much ❤
@Tayken
ps. review your images...got some code displayed.
Thanks @taykin is there a group for that? I am not sure how to fix the coding issue and I am aware of this. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment 😁
Nice. Am chijioke michael Ogbechie on facebook.
Nice to meet you 😁
Can u follow me back
Such an interesting post and makes one think how this is so true
I guess people want to share the high points of their life and that makes sense do your friends really want to see posts of the rough days, well yes they should andin real life a good friend would be there to sit with you and discuss the good and the bad days but to my minds eye its come to be on Socil media people only want to see the highlights and good things from individual or the total opposite and partake in angry vents on there particular opinion on any particular subject and dismiss anyone who things differently
Perhaps we need to all as a community focus on being the start of change seeing the highlights for what they are and being there for close friends and family for the harder days
Sorry I diverted off on a real tangent your post got me thinking
Have a good weekend
Thanks for the comment and I think that people should be more open about their struggles. I don't mean by airing dirty laundry but just being honest and how they cope. Sure sharing the highlights are nice but being real is respected too.
Ohh yes I agree and I would like to see that as well, but I think as a society we need to change and be more accepting of people being real on social media
Time for things to change and lets hope things do change for the better
Well written and very true. Their lives are not perfect. They will have many of the same burdens. The real trick is to be genuinely happy for them that they have the opportunity to have such a great experience. (not easy at first lol) This puts your mind into the perfect state to receive the same types of wonderful moments. Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for the response @michaeldavid and it isn't easy to do but you are right.
:)
nice upvoted dear
Highlights. That is all.
Exactly!
Thanks for this post. I just got back from a short lil vacay---I wasn't able to get many photos and then I came home to a bit of crap to deal with. Not always up for sharing the downs.
@nattydred101 I am sorry to hear this! I hope you at least had a good time.