Keeping it real: why do we feel the need to pretend life is always perfect, fun and carefree?
Having a fabulous life? Living your life to the max?
A lovely girlfriend commented to me yesterday that she felt she had been too honest, even brutal when she described her family holiday. Put simply, the family holiday had been a camping trip, where it was way too hot, the kids were a bit of a nightmare at times, and they had quite a lot of time hanging out at the beach doing nothing. All in all, not bad.
She was feeling pretty good about this, until she spotted a friends update on Facebook, regaling the Facebook community of friends about how she’d taking her family looking at beautiful caves, fishing, for a fabulous alfresco lunch (which was prepared fresh with organic produce), and how her children were a delightful giggly bunch of well-behaved goodness. In one day. In the same sweltering weather.
She wondered how on earth anyone could possibly fit all of that in, and end up with a happy tribe at the end of the day?
Or was this perhaps an edited version of the day? A Facebook friendly account of what had taken place?
I’ve been guilty of ‘styling’ the odd photo or two. Slightly rearranging a ‘spontaneous’ moment… Have you?
Burnt from an earlier experience of posting on Facebook years ago, that I was ‘shattered’ after a long day at work, whilst pregnant, and chasing after two toddlers, I am now a little more cautious. That day, when Facebook prompted me with ‘how do you feel’, I was brutally honest. I felt shattered, meaning tired, grumpy and, well, a wee bit exhausted. So, I said how I really felt. Without delving back into it, let’s just say I copped a bit of flak. About being too honest, that people may worry when they read my status, and it may be misinterpreted.
All good points.
However, I wonder, who are we kidding when we present a glowing, every day is a pleasure account of our lives? The lovely Mia Freedman wrote a fab column on the weekend about prefect parenting, and how not every moment is sheer pleasure. I read her column whilst picking up two takeaway coffees savouring the ‘quiet time’ away from the tribe.
I vote for more honesty. While I am still firm advocate for seeing the upside in the everyday, I think a side-serve of honesty would help us all.
Enjoy xx
Pages
Want to read more?
- September 2019
- July 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- August 2018
- April 2018
- November 2017
- September 2017
- June 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- September 2016
- June 2016
- February 2016
- November 2015
- August 2015
- June 2015
- April 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- May 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
Our lovely sponsors!
Fair Use
Please do not use anything without permission or without noting its origins on your blog or website.
Pinterest
If you pin any images from this site please include the original source/photographer’s credit.Thank you