Social Media Disaster

Social media is managing to ruin the happiness of innocent people. It's managing to make people feel more in the know, and yet somehow, less connected to those around them. It's showing the highlight reel that people want others to see while everyone else sits at home and focusing on their behind the scenes muck - the laundry that needs done, the awful day at work, the bills that need paid, the vacations lusted after, and the free time no one can seem to find.

So the question is - How does everyone have a better life than me when I pull them up on social media? 

Answer: Because we only see the bits that they want to show. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to pull up FB to find so-and-so is arguing with their boyfriend again, what's-his-name was just laid off, or who's-she-what's-its is having the worst day ever because they're out of pumpkin soy latte's and she has a hole in her yoga pants. I WANT to see the good things that people want to share, but that doesn't mean I'm sitting at home reflecting on my oh-so-perfect life too. Because it's not. Because no one's life is perfect. Because social media creates unrealistic expectations. Unrealistic - as in NOT REAL.

So earlier this year I made a conscious effort to spend less time on facebook. I actually closed my account for several months. And guess what? I didn't miss it. I did eventually get back on so I could see pictures of my ever growing extended family and my friends' accomplishments. But I'm keeping in touch with the people I still want to keep in touch with by ACTUALLY talking to them, or texting them, or visiting them. It gets difficult as you get older and lives get more busy with that day to day grind we all deal with but it's worth it. Facebook is great to browse through pictures of loved ones, but it's not a place I want to live. I want to actually live outside the confines of a screen.

Take away message?

 Comparison is the thief of joy. Get out there and be joyful with the people you care about.