We all know that social media is a carefully curated version of reality. For instance: I did NOT post on instagram the fact that I yelled at my son so much yesterday that he called me ‘scary’. Nor did I post a photo of my sourdough bread that was solid dough in the center with a thin crust around it and which I STILL FED MY FAMILY FOR DINNER.
Why? Because on social media, my bread is crusty and golden, my kids are smiling, and my hair is not frizzing in a halo around my head at all times.
But.
I still judge myself against the perfectly filtered glimpses of reality posted by my friends online. I look at their homeschool teaching plans and feel bad that I can’t remember the difference between iReady and iStation (is there a difference?) I look at my friend’s baking adventures and feel guilty that the brownies I made came from a box. I look at my friends’ side hustles, blogs, and artistic endeavors, and feel like i am not doing enough with my life. I look at my friend’s 5K times and yoga poses and feel the skin on the bottom of my arms shaking as I type.
But.
Guess what? Those SAME FRIENDS are looking at me and feeling less-than too! I am not sure precisely how, but I have seen this merry go round in operation enough to know it is true.
Instead of focusing on being more like others, or finding the time, energy, and money to keep up with someone else, why don’t we just double down on being the best versions of ourselves?
For example- confession. I hate running. Except, for some reason, on Saturday mornings. So, 6 days a week, I walk. THAT’S FINE. I also do not have the attention span to know who celebrities are. People start talking about Kardashians, and I glaze over. NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT. Other people go to the pool in two piece swim suits that I can’t even imagine being brave enough to leave the dressing room in, and it hurts. But what will my kids remember? Whether I played Marco Polo with them, or if I huddled under the umbrella in my cover up.
What do you love? Do it more. Celebrate loving it, unselfconsiously. What do you hate? Find a way to do it less, and be ok with that. Where do you feel self-conscious? Take a deep breath and fill that area of your life with love and forgiveness, for not being what you wish it could be. Then get on with your day.
Be the best YOU you can be, and don’t read the comments- the ones on Facebook, OR the ones in your subconscious.
JoyPlusGrace 